Veterans’ welfare, armed forces pensions and the handling of casualty notifications are all at risk as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) plans to privatise its shared services organisation – Defence Business Services (DBS). DBS employs over 2,200 people and is responsible for MoD armed forces and civilian pay, pensions and HR, delivering welfare to 900,000 veterans and their dependents, handling casualty notifications and administration 24 hours a day, UK wide security vetting and making payments to all defence suppliers. MoD’s track record with private companies in DBS generates some big concerns. In 2012, Serco and Accenture were brought in as management partners where they were paid for running the organisation but additionally received 40p for every pound saved via ‘efficiency gains’. This led to reckless cuts, asset stripping and manipulating of performance measures in a profit grabbing frenzy. In many areas of DBS, jobs were cut to generate a saving (and profit for Serco and Accenture) but were then reinstated at a later date. When the Serco-Accenture contract was brought to an end this year, it was hoped that common sense had prevailed. Yet now the MoD want to go one step further by fully privatising the running of DBS. The MoD argue that this will bring them savings but history tells another story. Instead, it will result in cuts to services, putting those who rely on DBS, like veterans, MoD staff and army personnel at risk. It could also open the door to offshoring of work and defence sensitive data as companies seek to maximise profits. The alarm bells don’t stop there. A recent National Audit Office report has revealed that privatisations of other shared services across Whitehall has failed to deliver value for money to taxpayers, with long delays and rising costs. DBS is one of the largest and most complex shared services organisations in Europe, carrying out sensitive and critical services to the MoD, its staff, the armed forces and veterans. The MoD should safeguard this by keeping DBS public.

Because for more than 520 people, it's a life-saving, life-affirming space where they aren't judged and they can feel safe and supported. We desperately need a continuation of the service No.10 provides. Demolition of No.10 doesn't begin until January 2017, which will mean that currently the building will be left empty for four months from September 1st.

Sally the local lollipop lady for my sons school Burraton primary school is being cut. People drive too fast along the stretch of road outside the school and without her in place it is dangerous for the children. The council have decided to cut 19 sites throughout Cornwall and without these men and women in place it is dangerous for the children. There are no alternative crossings for the children to use in the area. Always polite and curtious the lollipop men and women are not just a safe way to help the children cross the road but also help teach Road safety and manners. Without them in place I believe we will see an increase in accidents and even deaths along the stretches of roads they patrol. The 19 sites are 1 REDRUTH, WEST TREWIRGIE ROAD 2 DELABOLE O/S SCHOOL 3 SALTASH, LISKEARD ROAD 4 ST COLUMB MAJOR, NEWQUAY ROAD 5 REDRUTH, JNCT CLINTON ROAD HEANTON TCE 6 TROON 7 SALTASH BURRATON, FAIREMEAD ROAD 8 CALLINGTON NEW ROAD 9 FALMOUTH ALBONY ROAD 10 DOBWALLS ON CROSSROAD 11 NEWQUAY, ST COLUMB MINOR ON PORTHBEAN ROAD 12 SENNEN 13 ST AUSTELL, MOUNT CHARLES WOODLAND ROAD 14 CAMELFORD CLEASE ROAD 15 NANPEAN 16 CAMBOURNE FOUNDRY ROAD 17 CAMBOURNE DOLCOATH ROAD 18 NEWQUAY TRENANCE ROAD 19 NEWQUAY EDGECUMBE AVENUE Please everyone sign and share this

Our libraries do more than simply loan books. They provide events for children, internet access for the elderly, book clubs and more. They’re places for the whole community to come together and learn. Libraries are a door into the world, we need to protect them for future generations.

Camden Town is one of London's major tourist attractions and part of its charm is the amount and variety of small business owners who each sell a wide range of food from all around the world. Some were in tears yesterday as the new market management told them the news.The independent traders were also told to keep very quite about this development or they would be turfed out before the month was up ,The new management intend to replace the 200 present food traders with a corporate style concept where every trader is working for them with a till system taken .

Barrowford Library is an active and much-needed resource, with users ranging in age from the very young to the very elderly. A dedicated and professional library service is a must in any civilised society and the scale of cuts proposed to Lancashire's library facilities are unacceptable. The library has regular reading and dedicated events for children and a variety of library-based activities for locals. The removal of the library and sale of the building would mean that there are no other community spaces to do these activities. Once removed these facilities will not be replaced. Barrowford is a growing community and should not be deprived of a library.

Muswell Hill Library is under threat! 1. Haringey Council are trying to close Muswell Hill Library so that they can sell off the building. 2. They want to fund projects elsewhere in the borough. 3. Muswell Hill Library is a listed building of great significance - yet the council claim "investing in this building is not a priority". 4. Instead they are offering a downgraded library service in a dark, oppressive space with low ceilings, beneath a major luxury flats development. 5. There will be no disabled parking or possibility to set down passengers with limited mobility - despite being located on one of the steepest hills in London. 6. The 'consultation' only offers two possible options - stay in the existing building with no improvements, or move to the alternative site. Our Campaign 1. The Friends of Muswell Hill Library have been given a quote to improve the existing library for just £60,000. 2. We are campaigning for Haringey Council to go ahead with this option 3. This modest cost would cover a lift, a disabled toilet, better disabled access 4. Haringey Council claim that these minor modifications would cost £680,000! This is 11 times more than the true cost! 5. Catherine West MP has written to the leader of Haringey Council in support of our campaign. What can you do to help? 1. Sign this petition - and get your friends and family to do so! (link goes here). If we get 2,220 signatures we can trigger a Full Council debate! 2. Join our facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/save.muswell.hill.library 3. Spread the message in the media and follow us on Twitter @FriendsN10 4. Go to www.haringey.gov.uk/survey/mhl-consultation and fill in the questionnaire. Respond ‘Strongly Agree' to Option 1 and ‘Strongly Disagree’ to Option 2. Remember to click the ‘Submit’ button. 5. Write to the responsible councillor, Bernice Vanier - you can email her at [email protected] 6. Write to the responsible civil servant, Zoe Robertson - you can email her at [email protected] 7. Make a formal complaint to Haringey Council - that they have not consulted on all options - you can do this by clicking here: https://eforms.secure.haringey.gov.uk/ufs/ufsmain?formid=CST_CACS&FBT=CSC

Libraries like my own in Kirkham are an active and much-needed resource, with users ranging in age from the very young to the very elderly. A dedicated and professional library service is a must in any civilised society and the scale of cuts proposed to Lancashire's library facilities are unacceptable. Libraries in Lancashire do more than just provide books. They have regular reading and dedicated events for children, active creative writing groups, web-based learning sessions, book clubs, additional clubs, poetry readings and a variety of library-based activities that cannot be undermined nor shifted to an inappropriate location. Access to a "comprehensive and efficient" library service is covered under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act, with additional elements located in the 1998 Human Rights Act and 2010 Equality Act. Our Libraries provide an essential and eclectic service to the local community, and this factor should be a major consideration during any consultations, as per sections of the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act, with additional elements located in the 1998 Human Rights Act and 2010 Equality Act.

There is a complete lack of transparency in local government democracy where individual voting records are not kept nor available for scrutiny.

If your attending hospital for treatment etc you shouldn't have to pay to park!! It's not like you chose to have a long term illness and you don't go to hospital for fun!! My daughter is 14 she suffers with a lot of conditions including cerebral palsy (which affects all 4 limbs resulting in her being wheelchair bound and unable to do anything for herself) ulcerative colitis (which causes flare-ups of ulcers on her colon and she needs admitting to hospital and given very strong steroids to stop the constant diarrhoea and sickness) she now has SMA caused by her scoliosis getting worse and is currently being fed through a tube going into her small bowel whilst waiting for major spinal surgery!! We have to go to north tees on a regular basis for blood tests and to monitor her weight etc I get very angry that I have to pay £3 for parking to go for tests however. We can go to the cinema or shopping and not pay for a thing!!!!

Hereford Probation service has been a great help to myself in learning what and who I want to be after a long series of poor choices. If they relocated the service lots of patrons would not be able to attend due to the rural area we live in. Other factors would be many of these people are on benefits or have low incomes and it would eat a large portion of their living allowance causing many people to suffer unnecessary hardship. The staff would no longer be able to provide home visits and many people who suffer with disabilities mental and physical would be put through unnecessary stress. The drop in service and counseling that many people rely on would no longer be available possibly causing an increase in crime as many people find comfort in being able to discuss their issues with a familiar team as in some cases these are the only people they've got to reach out to.

High speed broad band is not a luxury. People in small towns and villages need internet just as much as people in big towns and cities. Decent broadband connection is essential for everything from paying bills to running businesses. But for some places in the UK, the internet speed is either painfully slow or non-existent. It's time the government stepped up and fulfilled it's promise of decent broadband for everyone. The government has changed the way it interacts with citizens. The government assumes that the public can access the internet and down load all the information and documents required. But without high speed broad band the download can fail. The government expects the public to use the internet but has not ensured that there is an adequate infrastructure available to everyone. Even where fiber optic cables are available the final section to the property is often elderly cooper cable which can severely limit data transfer speeds. The longer the length of cooper cable the greater the drop off speed. When I was having trouble with my broad band I was able to use the computers at the library, for an hour a day (Not Sundays) provided there was a computer free. A little inconvenient but at least I have a library that I can get to easily. This is not something that is available to everybody in the constituency. The prosperity of the region can only be enhanced when high speed broad band is available throughout the region.