The Agency Workers Regulations (AWR), which came into force in October 2011, gives agency workers the right to ‘equal treatment’ with the same pay and other basic working conditions as equivalent permanent staff, but this doesn't prevent harrassment, bullying or discrimination. It is because the law that allows verbal termination of employment for agency workers makes them vulnerable to abuse at work place. Full details of the Regulations can be found at https://www.gov.uk/agency-workers-your-rights/your-rights-as-a-temporary-agency-worker The verbal termination of employment gives too much power in the perpetuators of these crimes who are most often the reporting officer or immediate senior employee. We need to prevent it happening in the workplaces and make sure that the employer fulfills duty of care towards an agency worker from day one to the last day. This would happen only if the agency worker is made aware of their rights from day one. That's why we need: a) Induction from the employer and not just the agency b) Written Termination letter from HR A verbal termination of employment doesn't respect dignity of labour and can be unprofessional. A written letter of termination gives an agency worker a dignified exit and a fair opportunity to address grievances, if any. It also encourages senior employees to follow procedures with regard to termination of employment of agency workers, instead of acting on a whim. A written 'employment termination letter' from HR could also be used as a reference by the agency worker for future employments. This would also help the agency worker to feel like a valuable part of the work force, who is respected for their contribution to the workforce instead of being written off as a disposable replacement worker. Also, If all the the councils and government bodies set an example by changing the way they deal with Agency workers, others may follow.

HMRC wrongly and unfairly applied favourable terms to the settlement of 1,100 individuals/businesses it identified from leaked HSBC Swiss files as having evaded paying tax, even though none of the 1,100 cases qualified for the favourable terms. Tax evasion is a criminal offence and the favourable terms offered included immunity from prosecution, penalties from 10% of unpaid tax instead of 200% and a claw back period of 10 rather than 20 years. These favourable terms have cost the British taxpayer up to £100million in tax revenue and the potential of further criminal prosecutions. However it is not too late. As the rules were wrongly applied the decision to offer favourable treatment can be overturned. We can still recover the correct amount of money owed to help fund our public services.

Public provision of water services in Scotland should continue to be a point of pride and a point of principle. Water is a service that should continue to be delivered for the benefit of the people. Public water provision in Scotland has resulted in the lowest average water bills in the UK for both households and businesses. Let's keep it that way by maintaining the responsibility and the benefits of water provision in the hands of the public sector here in Scotland.

This is important, because the false guarantee swayed members vote to support the Governments position. It is important to uphold the position that ministers that mislead the house should be sacked.

If we can't go to Daycare we just stay at home alone, watching TV all day, we are isolated, depressed and get no exercise. What is the point of getting dressed in the morning if there is nowhere to go? At daycare we have a hot meal, see smiling faces, we can joke and talk about our problems with staff and friends in a way that we can't talk to our family. This gives us joy. We are worried about the 2/3rds of elderly who have now left.. we want them back. The average pension is £120 a week, three days at daycare now costs almost half of our pension. If we don't come to daycare and become depressed and sedentary we are more likely to use expensive services such as personal care, GP surgeries and hospitals. Daycare is a lifeline, many of us cannot get out on our own. Support us to stay fit, healthy, happy and in our own homes - lower the cost of daycare, it will save the council money in the long run.

The canteen employs staff, many who have worked here for many years. The canteen provides healthy and hearty food at breakfast and lunch, in a safe, friendly and accessible environment. The civic centre is also a place where residents come for a hot cooked lunch and company.

This anomaly means private delivery companies look cheaper, but are not. My hospital neurology dept "saves" £250k a year on VAT on beta interferon alone this way, but the private healthcare provider offers a lamentable service, not turning up, letting patients run out of meds, etc. There are few companies to compete, and the NHS cannot afford to take service back. Jeremy Hunt and HMRC know about the unfair advantage private companies have, but ignore it. This means the NHS is paying £200 million A YEAR on drugs to the Treasury in VAT. Why penalise the NHS? Let the NHS compete fairly!

Crime, accidents,injuries and a general feeling of not being safe on our streets after midnight is not something the people of Colchester should be having to suffer, especially when we still all pay council tax but it seems to give us less and less in return. The switching off of the lights at Midnight even has an effect on local businesses, as people going to pubs and clubs etc, are making plans to leave early so as not to be going home in the dark. The chief executive of Essex County Council earns £210,000 a year!

The number of 18-25 year olds who are homeless is ever increasing and looking for a roof over their head is made difficult by barriers put there by Medway Council. This is completely unacceptable and we call for change regarding this is issue, especially in the winter months.

Mental Health services are stretched to breaking point there is a severe lack of units for both children and adults, sometimes resulting in people being held in police cells which is both ethically and morally wrong! People in crisis and their families have little to no help whilst awaiting a bed and often have to travel hundreds of miles away from home due to lack of suitable units close to home, breaking families apart for weeks and even months at a time. Community services, crisis teams and social service departments are not fit for purpose due to a lack of funding and staff shortages, the increasing demand of community care not being supplied is causing bed blocking in many units and is causing many to not receive the help they need to prevent admission in the first place. The whole system is in need of change and it needs to be made a high priority because the numbers of people in need and in crisis is rising fast!

It’s been a while coming but it has been revealed that TerraQuest has been chosen by DCLG to partner with them in a joint venture to provide the ongoing delivery and commercialisation of the Planning Portal service. This has been quietly processed to avoid the public having their say. The joint venture has claimed it will not charge applicants or LPAs for using the Portal’s 1App planning application service [yet] and that a new and improved 1App and website will be delivered by TerraQuest’s prime subcontractor Civica, later in 2015. They say existing service will remain in place until the new website is launched – they promise there will be no disruption to the public, but how can privatisation of a core planning service be in the public interest? It is the intention to transfer staff to the new business before the end of the financial year however the JV is subject to final negotiation and therefore any questions regarding the process of commercialisation should be urgently directed to the Minister to question how the government can justify this conflict and prevent this public service being privatised. Why privatise something that is not intended to make money and that is presently free to everyone?

It is making the lives of non-resident father's (who often experience debt, drink/drug problems, unemployment & PAS as a result of broken relationships) a misery, sometimes taking extortionate amounts of money direct from their wage packet, irrespective of being on an IVA programme, having massive travel costs to see their child etc). Also, the blanket 15% - often higher to address arrears which fathers often incur due to dispute with mother on separation - is unfair and should be lower. The mother often chooses to leave and has to bear responsibility for this. Plus she gets benefits for having children, so is doubly rewarded.