Equal worth of every human being

It's a statistical fact that the MAJOR employers in the UK are small businesses. The High Street creates not only job opportunities for shop workers, but for support services such as delivery drivers, window cleaners, waste companies etc. On a human level, they also help to keep towns alive and to maintain a sense of community. The latest hike in business rates that have seen some shopkeepers rates rise by 200% is probably the last straw for many. So add this to the income tax, VAT, rising rents, fuel and staff costs, staff N.I contributions and Local Authorities making it increasingly difficult for shoppers to park etc. and you may start to get the picture. the hike in business rates may well be the last straw for many small independents. So what will become of our High streets? If the government does not help the independents, the people that make your shopping trip more interesting and diverse, then we will end up with rows of chains who are run by faceless profiteers who have no understanding nor interest in local communities. Remember, with every High Street shop that closes goes jobs, personal service and the very soul of a local community. Please sign this petition and get something done for the little guys.

There is a climate of fear and insecurity in all areas of employment this, opportunistic, cynical attempt to off-set costs will add to that. Furthermore, workers should not be given a double penalty: lost wages plus the burden of paying for cover while they are sick. No businesses should feel this is an acceptable response. This is a chance for the government to demonstrate a modicum of support for struggling workers.

The villagers have not asked for this mast. There is no proven need or demand for a Vodafone mast. Such a mast would be out of keeping with the area, an area of outstanding natural beauty on the edge of Pembrokeshire Coastal National Parks. It is within 500m of the local primary school and all the inhabitants including children and the elderly in between. We are all concerned about the potential and far-reaching health risks associated with this new technology especially for the many children and ageing population in Llangwm and Burton. We also think it will be an unsightly and unnecessary addition to our pretty Pembrokeshire village. Many tourists come to Llangwm (as featured on Penelope Keith's Hidden Villages) and surrounding villages to get away from things like masts and enjoy what a rural village has to offer. This mast will be in full public view on entering the village of Llangwm and visible from most of the houses situated within it and Port Lion. This has not been put to the public vote or any kind of democratic process. No planning supposedly necessary. The landowner lives elsewhere so he will just take the money offered and have no adverse effects to his lifestyle. Please add your supporting vote. We need as many objections as possible. Why should Vodafone be able to put these things anywhere they like? According to the National Planning Policy Framework Section 5: 43. In preparing Local Plans, local planning authorities should support the expansion of electronic communications networks, including telecommunications and high speed broadband. They should aim to keep the numbers of radio and telecommunications masts and the sites for such installations to a minimum consistent with the efficient operation of the network. Existing masts, buildings and other structures should be used, unless the need for a new site has been justified. Where new sites are required, equipment should be sympathetically designed and camouflaged where appropriate. In this case there is already a mast base station situated in Burton near the top of New Wells Road. This seems very close for another base station to be required. Also the position of this new mast and the minimal tree coverage mean that it will not be camouflaged at any time of year and only from one side during the summer months. The new design of this mast also means it will be a prominent feature during the winter months not in sympathy with the countryside at all. Add your vote if you agree and support us in keeping this ugly structure from dominating our village.

As a parent with a child in secondary school (Hove Park School) I'm seeing first hand the negative impact of cuts with crumbling buildings, planned staff redundancies, fewer after school clubs and difficulty attracting and retaining teaching talent.

Because under the new formula schools will lose hundreds of thousands of pounds, equivalent to losing 3 teachers in primary schools and 6 teachers in secondary schools.

At the moment I am going through a tough patch with anxiety and depression and I find myself feeling scared. I increasingly feel that I want to go to hospital, but am aware that it is much harder to become an inpatient than it was 20 years ago. An issue I saw on the Government petition website made me think. If long term sufferers like me, or their families, phoned 999 they could be put through to a person trained to deal with these issues. They could provide immediate support or intervention or a referral. This would free up the police and ambulance services. If another emergency service needed to be involved, this could be assessed and coordinated. Equally, one of the other emergency services could contact the mental health team for advice or to require a physical presence by one of the team. The Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust already have street triage in place, so this could be used as a model for a nationwide roll out : https://www.bsmhft.nhs.uk/our-services/urgent-care/street-triage/ This petition has been inspired by the following petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/172423

Ebooks and paid e-literature (electronic newspaper/magazine subscriptions) carry 20% VAT but paper books, newspapers and magazines are zero rated for VAT. In the past we have been told that EU legislation prevents a 0% VAT rate and that e-literature is a 'service'. After BREXIT the UK will set VAT rates on this. Claiming e-formats are a service but paper is not is ridiculous since both formats require: an author an editor formatting Only paper requires tree felling, transport, manufacture, printing, storage, eventual disposal. Re-pulped books require de-inking & disposal of toxic waste. E-literature does require digital delivery but we are charged VAT on the whole product rather than the digital delivery service alone. (This would be about 2 pence) e-formats need little oil, produce little toxic waste & add almost nothing to carbon emissions. The government should encourage e-formats by removing this bizarre VAT.

The homeless crisis in Brighton is shocking. With the rising cost of living and rent hikes in the area homelessness has visibly increased. There are people living in shop doorways on almost every street and alley way. They are begging for money for food with absolutely no way out of their situation. It is virtually impossible to get a job when you are homeless and in offering the homeless a home we give them a second chance at life. A chance to get a job and live with the dignity and respect we all deserve.

All learners these days can have the opportunity to drive on a public road with an approved driving instructor. Young drivers should not be allowed on public roads without knowing the hazards, speed & stopping distances and should be aware of road signals and signs. I am petitioning that the government and the DVLA/DVSA should put theory test at first before driving with an approved driving instructor.

Claire says, "This is important because the people using these facilities are the friends and family of people from our community. With the amount of housing being built this problem can only get worse and it is our parents and grandparents who will be the ones to suffer. "The most vulnerable in our society deserve the best care and facilities that we are able to provide. The care provided by Eskgreen and The Hollies is second to none but they provide that care in spite of the chronic under investment made by our council and government."

Issuing statements like this is nothing short of catastrophic! and just yet another excuse for war at the hands of two dictatorships. The mentality of the North Korean leadership would most likely see this as a threat, plunging the world into World War 3! The UK Government should make it perfectly clear, this is not acceptable behaviour, and that diplomatic steps WILL be taken should this barbaric action continue. It's time other countries stood up to the USA as sovereign nations in their own right, even though they are allies.