In the United Kingdom, the lack of salary transparency in job adverts perpetuates inequality and disadvantages certain groups, including women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities. This opaque practice contributes to systemic barriers in the workplace, enabling pay discrimination and reducing opportunities for equitable employment. The Issue Hidden salaries are more than just an inconvenience; they actively perpetuate inequality: For Women: Women in the UK continue to face a gender pay gap of 13.1% (as of April 2024). Lack of transparency exacerbates this issue by making it harder for women to negotiate fair salaries, particularly in male-dominated industries. Research shows women are less likely to apply for roles when salary information is absent, fearing they may be offered less than their worth. For LGBTQIA+ Individuals: Members of the LGBTQIA+ community are already at a disadvantage, often facing workplace discrimination. Hidden salaries make it easier for employers to offer unequal pay, relying on stereotypes or biases about perceived “value” rather than qualifications. For Ethnic Minorities: Ethnic minorities in the UK face persistent pay disparities, with Black and South Asian workers earning significantly less on average than their white counterparts. Without transparency, there is no accountability for these disparities, and workers may unknowingly accept lower pay due to systemic discrimination. For People with Disabilities: Disabled workers experience a disability pay gap of 17.2% in the UK (as of November 2024). Many disabled individuals feel compelled to accept roles without salary clarity, fearing their disability may affect pay negotiations or job offers. The Problem with “Competitive Salary” Phrases like "competitive salary" in job adverts are vague, unhelpful, and allow for significant disparities in pay. This lack of clarity disadvantages candidates in several ways: It Masks Pay Inequities: Employers can exploit the ambiguity of "competitive salary" to offer less to candidates based on gender, race, or other biases. It Discourages Applications: Many candidates, particularly those from under-represented groups, may avoid applying to roles where compensation is unclear, fearing they won’t be paid fairly. It Wastes Time: Job seekers and employers both lose valuable time when salary expectations don't align. We demand that employers be required to disclose a definitive salary or, if not possible, a salary range that is narrow enough to provide meaningful information to candidates (e.g., £30,000–£35,000).  Broad, vague ranges (e.g., £25,000–£50,000) are insufficient and undermine the purpose of transparency. The Need for Transparency in a Cost-of-Living Crisis With the country currently experiencing a cost-of-living crisis, where prices for everyday essentials are rising on a near-monthly basis, it has never been more important to have clear, upfront salary information. Inflation and Rising Costs: As energy bills, food prices, and rent continue to increase, many workers are finding it harder to make ends meet. Salary transparency would allow job seekers to quickly assess whether a role meets their financial needs before committing to time-consuming applications or interviews. Financial Planning: Clear salary information gives workers the ability to plan their finances better, making it easier for them to navigate economic uncertainty. Equity and Fairness: In these challenging times, it is crucial that everyone, regardless of gender, race, ability, or sexual orientation, has the opportunity to earn a fair and equitable wage. Lack of transparency in salary only further perpetuates the struggles faced by many groups already disadvantaged in the workforce. The Solution Salary transparency in job adverts is a proven strategy to tackle these disparities. By mandating that all employers disclose salary ranges or fixed salaries in job adverts, we can: Ensure Accountability: Employers will need to justify pay decisions based on qualifications, not bias. Empower Marginalised Groups: Workers from under-represented communities will have the confidence to demand fair pay. Close Pay Gaps: Transparency forces organisations to address and rectify unjust disparities. Countries like Canada and certain U.S. states have implemented similar policies with positive outcomes, showing that transparency is both achievable and beneficial.

Clause 80 of the Government’s Data (Use and Access) Bill could strip away your right to decide whether people or machines make decisions that impact our lives. Big Tech and Whitehall are eager to cut costs by using AI algorithms to make crucial decisions about you. Soon, computers—not people—could determine the outcome of your benefit claims, job applications, or mortgage approvals. Right now, UK GDPR protects your right not to be simply subjected to life-changing decisions made solely by machines. You will be forced to prove a mistake has been made when machines get it wrong. We need to ensure that we decide whether people — not just machines — make life-changing decisions about us.  Computers do make mistakes. In 2019, an algorithm misgraded the A-level results of thousands of students – as a result 40% came out lower than expected. Uber was sued after the company used an algorithm to ‘robo-fire’ many of its drivers, and problems with the Post Office Horizon system resulted in hundreds of people being wrongly prosecuted.  With the increased use of AI by companies and government departments, we can expect automated decision-making to increase.  We need to be able to decide if we want humans or machines to determine life-changing decisions.

We need your help!  Milngavie Football Club (MFC) delivers grassroots, community-based football to hundreds of players on a weekly basis. The club is run for the benefit of the local community and is managed entirely by volunteers. We would like to take on more players in all sections and particularly expand our growing girls’ sections, mini kickers and ASN football, but the lack of local facilities and lack of all-weather capable pitches is severely limiting our capacity to provide consistent and regular training sessions and match day experiences year-round.    What we need    Key to supporting more players in all age groups is the ability to offer reliable training and match day facilities all year round. To achieve this objective, we need investment in a synthetic pitch in Milngavie which can be used to increase player participation across all levels, all year round. At the moment, the grass pitches in our local area become mostly unplayable during wintertime due primarily to the West Coast weather and persistent pitch waterlogging. About Milngavie Football Club   MFC’s aim is to develop footballing and social skills through coaching and enjoyment of football and being part of a team. The club follows the Scottish Youth Football Association (SYFA) Player Pathway, beginning with our Mini Kickers section, progressing through to Fun Fours, and onto 7-a-side football for 8 – 10-year-olds, then 9-a-side, before finally moving onto full-sized 11-a-side football. The club currently has around 50 teams over all age groups, from the mini kickers right up to the Walk Football group.    Milngavie Football Club believes in equality, enjoyment, and participation in football for everyone and the club has recently won the The Herald and GenAnalytics Diversity in Sport Award for 2024. More details can be found here -https://www.milngaviefootballclub.com/awardwinners/. Milngavie Football Club is also a Scottish FA Platinum Accredited Club, a Scottish FA Disability Inclusive Club and MOR+ accredited club with East Dunbartonshire Council - https://www.edlc.co.uk/sport-leisure/club-development/minimum-operating-requirements-mor-morplus/.    Our primary activities include regular training and matches for all age groups to improve the lives of all those that participate. To find out more about Milngavie Football Club please visit https://www.milngaviefootballclub.com/home/ 

Leisure Centres in Powys are not just a place to swim or play sport, they are a hub for communities. Leisure Centres are vital for all communities and without them it will cost Powys Country Council, Powys Teaching Health Board and Welsh Government more money on health provisions in the medium to long term. Where is the prevention is better then sure with any other approach then option 1 ? And what about the future generations act? Mental Health in rural communities must be a priority and it is proven that exercise and being in a sociable environment improves wellbeing and mental health.

Leisure Centres are not just a place to swim and play sport they are a hub for communities including plays, concerts, luncheon clubs, back to health classes. These are so important for all communities and without them it will cost Powys more on health provisions. Where is the prevention is better than cure with any other approach than option 1? And what about the future generations act?

Rocketing house prices mean that many households can no longer find affordable housing which has a hugely detrimental impact on their lives. In Bishopston for example, house prices are now over 8 times average household incomes. Asking rents also rose by 19.7% in Swansea county in 2022 and 11% in 2023 (one of the highest rises in the UK) whilst average wages only rose by 6.7% at their peak, making finding suitable housing harder and harder each year. This is a pattern being repeated in all areas of Wales and across the rest of the UK.  GCLT are launching plans for one of Wale’s first Community Land Trust, aiming to build 14 genuinely affordable, zero carbon homes in their area, using an innovative community-led self-build model. The community group wants to show that developments where residents, the local community and nature are at their heart, are good for communities, biodiversity and the planet. We hope this will become a replicable model for more sustainable, affordable and beautiful housing across Wales.  Alongside this we need to dramatically cut the amount of carbon produced by houses to move towards a carbon-neutral future. Currently this is not happening quickly enough, with almost all new housing still being built to very low performance standards, by big developers looking to maximise profits.  GCLT are proposing a new model of housing, where houses are designed & built by residents, prices are kept affordable in relation to local wages forever, and homes produce net zero carbon over their lifetime. New housing should not always be a  sacrifice, and by careful design, and prioritising quality over profit, new housing can improve areas, increase biodiversity, provide much needed affordable housing, and promote truly sustainable lifestyles.   Please sign this petition to show support for the project, and a new model of community-led housing in Wales

The TA Building was built 1896-7 on Paisley High St to the design of Paisley's foremost architect of the time, TG Abercrombie. It is one of the best of the 38 listed buildings by him. Following a fire in 2020, the owners, the JR Group, supported the remaining front and side walls with scaffolding. But in early October 2024 it removed the scaffolding.  It applied on 18th October for permission to demolish the building, claiming it is 'urgently necessary in the interest of health and safety'. However, the structure appears to be stable; and even if masonry were to fall, it would not endanger the public because the walls stand well within its site boundaries. The TA building is a much-loved part of the town centre streetscape. It complements the A listed Museum and Coats Memorial Church between which it stands. Its loss would undermine the sense of confidence in Paisley's future which is returning with the major investments in its town hall, museum, arts centre and central library. The prospects for restoration of the TA building are supported by: • The reopening in 2025 of the restored, improved and enlarged Paisley Museum; • The large flat site behind the building on which 'enabling development' could be built (a proposal for conversion and redevelopment providing 26 flats was permitted in 2007); • The excellent open outlook of the property south to the university campus, west to the Coats Memorial Church, and east to the public open space of the museum; • The success of the Council's policy of encouraging town centre living, aided by a reduction in its requirements for on-site parking; • The growing attraction of Glasgow home seekers to Paisley due to relative house prices, the attractive environment, and the proximity to Paisley Gilmour St station, the third busiest station in Scotland.

After learning that the bill for repairs to Stepping Hill has risen from £89m in 2021to the current figure of £130m the government has made a U turn and say that it cannot commit to the funding of the repairs at this stage.  We believe that the current state of disrepair of our hospital prevents patients receiving the care they need, makes it difficult for staff to provide high standards of care and will lead to even longer waiting lists. After declaring that the NHS was broken the Labour government announced that they would fix it.  In July this year, they confirmed that money would be available to repair Stepping Hill Hospital after a catalogue of problems were identified including:   ·         Buildings being unsafe for Staff and Patients ·         Closure and demolition of Outpatients B due to deterioration of the structure of the building. Relocation of departments in the hospital and reduction of outpatient appointments. ·         Ceiling collapse in the radiology department  (4h March 2024) due to leaks causing the cancellation of appointments. ·         Ceiling collapse in critical care unit causing the evacuation of seriously ill patients to operating theatres in the hospital and to another hospital   According to the Guardian Newspaper (17/10/24)’ Stepping Hill Hospital lost 2.918 hours of clinical time (worth approx. £581 000) because of recurring structural issues – the most of any hospital site’     The previous Conservative government promised 40 new hospitals by the 2030s. Stockport Foundation Trust who run the hospital and Stockport Council applied for funding to build a new hospital, but the request was rejected.  An extension to emergency care is ongoing, but this is not enough. We need and demand the urgent repairs to our hospital now.

This is important because not only is the the pub and event organisers are being singled out without valid reason! But also the vulnerable people & children who come to enjoy the music and without the danger of going into the carnival itself.  We have had next to no problems at these events compared to what goes on in other locations and we feel the community is at a loss if we are unable to go ahead. Let’s get our licence back to keep the event outside in the sunshine and also so we have enough room for the amount of people coming. The inside capacity isn’t large enough to host this event and given the nature of the day we don’t see why we can’t be outside like everyone else.

Fairness and equality for pensioners all over the UK.  To extend a better quality of life for those whose only crime is being old!

Access to EV charging points also presents disproportionate challenges to disabled people. While charging infrastructure is growing, many charging points remain inaccessible or located far from residential areas, creating distress and impracticality for disabled individuals and their carers, some of whom are disabled as well. For individuals reliant on personal transportation for medical and daily needs, the journey to a charging station is an unnecessary burden and, in some cases, impossible. Our Requests: 1. Provide Access to Non-EV Options: Ensure that Motability users who are at risk from EMFs, safety issues, and inaccessible charging points can choose non-electric vehicles as an alternative, providing a tailored solution that meets their health, safety, and accessibility needs. 2. Invest in Independent Research: Fund and conduct independent studies to assess the impact of EMF exposure from EVs and the feasibility of charging accessibility for those with neurological and physical disabilities. This research should focus on seizure triggers, sensory overload risks, and any safety concerns due to potential battery malfunctions. 3. Increase Transparency and Communication: Motability should clearly inform customers about any potential EMF and safety risks associated with EVs, while also providing practical guidance on charging access, so individuals and families with complex needs can make informed decisions about vehicle suitability. Electric vehicles, while beneficial in many ways, are not a one-size-fits-all solution. For vulnerable populations, the right to choose a vehicle that meets their health, safety, and accessibility requirements is essential. We believe it is imperative that the Government and Motability provide tailored options for all users, ensuring that those with neurological conditions and accessibility needs are not disproportionately impacted or excluded from safe, suitable vehicle access. Please sign this petition to support inclusivity, transparency, and health safety in Motability services, advocating for all disabled individuals to have vehicle choices that meet their unique needs. Signatures needed: 10,000 for a government response, 100,000 for consideration for a Parliamentary debate. This updated draft now emphasizes safety concerns, charging accessibility challenges, and the need for Motability to consider these issues to avoid disproportionately impacting disabled people.

Our petition is inspired by the experience of Grime Gran, a long-time resident of Bethnal Green. Grime Gran, who is elderly and faces limited mobility, frequently has to rely on the help of strangers to navigate the station’s stairs. On many occasions, she avoids the station entirely, choosing to take a bus to Liverpool Street instead, because the lack of lifts and ramps at Bethnal Green Underground Station make it inaccessible for people like her. Margie should not have to make such long, inconvenient journeys just to get her hair done.   Bethnal Green Station is a vital transport hub in our community, and it is unacceptable that it remains inaccessible to many residents. The lack of accessible facilities at the station is a clear example of exclusionary practices that disproportionately affect those with limited mobility, parents with young children in prams, and others in need of inclusive transport services. Let’s stand together to make Tower Hamlets a truly inclusive place for all. Instructions for signing the petition:   Please provide your full name and address/postcode (or the name of your school or workplace if you are signing on behalf of these).    We need at least 2,000 signatures to bring this important matter to debate at the Council.