MPs have just begun their 83-day summer recess.
In a month-long feature, News Shopper reporter DAN KEEL talks to the area's representatives about their holiday plans during a break from Parliament which lasts until October 12.
John Horam - aged 70 - Orpington - Conservative
1. How many holidays will you be going on during the summer recess? Two.
2. Where are you going? Devon (one week) and Creuze in France (one week).
3. What type of accommodation will you be staying in?A rented flat in Devon and a rented cottage in France.
4. What will you be doing with the rest of your recess? Working like I always do either in Parliament or in my constituency.
5. Which book will you be reading on the beach? I will be reading Behind Closed Doors, which looks at the exchanges between Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt.
6. What music will you be listening to on the plane? I love opera and jazz. I used to be in a jazz band.
7. What will you be thinking about while you are on holiday? The whole point is to have a change of scene. I will try not to think about work.
8. What's the first thing you will do when you return from your travels? Look at my garden and hope it's not too overgrown.
9. Do you think the summer recess for MPs is too long? Yes. A month would be sufficient.
10. Swimming trunks or swimming shorts? I certainly won't be wearing trunks.
Derek Conway - aged 56 - Old Bexley and Sidcup
1. How many holidays will you be going on during the summer recess? One
2. Where are you going? A destination in the UK for two weeks.
3. What type of accommodation will you be staying in? No answer.
4. What will you be doing with the rest of your recess? Parliamentary duties and constituency matters.
5. Which book will you be reading on the beach? Novels based on the Viking invasions of Britain.
6. What music will you be listening to on the plane? A broad range of music, preferably classical and a series of audio tapes on This Sceptred Isle.
7. What will you be thinking about while you are on holiday? No answer.
8. What's the first thing you will do when you return from your travels? No answer.
9. Do you think the summer recess for MPs is too long? No answer.
10. Swimming trunks or swimming shorts? For now I will resist the temptation to impose my Adonis-like torso on an unsuspecting public.
Howard Stoate - aged 55 - Dartford - Labour
1. How many holidays will you be going on during the summer recess? One.
2. Where are you going? Toronto in Canada for my uncle's 60th wedding anniversary.
3. What type of accommodation will you be staying in? If there is not much room in the house I might end up on the floor.
4. What will you be doing with the rest of your recess? My office will be open full-time and so it will be work as usual, helping out my constituents.
5. Which book will you be reading on the beach? The Earth by Emile Zola.
6. What music will you be listening to on the plane? I have got very wide tastes musically. Bob Dylan is my favourite but I will listen to anything.
7. What will you be thinking about while you are on holiday? It's been a busy year and during those two weeks I will hopefully be thinking about as little as possible.
8. What's the first thing you will do when you return from your travels? I will be going straight into the office and facing the music.
9. Do you think the summer recess for MPs is too long? No I don't. It is a summer recess where the House is not sitting, which gives me more time to help local people with their troubles.
10. Swimming trunks or swimming shorts? Both. Shorts for running on the beach and trunks for swimming.
Jim Dowd - aged 58 - Lewisham West - Labour
1. How many holidays will you be going on during the summer recess? None. I might go away for the weekend but I have nothing planned.
2. Where are you going? Not applicable so no answer.
3. What type of accommodation will you be staying in? Not applicable so no answer.
4. What will you be doing with the rest of your recess? Working in the office and House of Commons and doing my usual constituency work.
5. Which book will you be reading if you do get a break? Bill Bryson.
6. What music do you listen to when you are relaxing? What's that got to do with it? I don't know. Concerts and opera.
7. What will you be thinking about while you are on holiday? Not applicable so no answer.
8. What's the first thing you will do when you return from your travels? Not applicable so no answer.
9. Do you think the summer recess for MPs is too long? Not at all. Journalists always call it a holiday but it's not. It's a recess and we will all be working hard.
10. Swimming trunks or swimming shorts? That question is stupid and I won't answer it. Goodbye.
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