A lot of people who use prepayment meters do it because the are in very low income stream households & it avoids getting a big bill which could financially send them under. Also many of these users are not only elderly, infirm, but also disabled & in many cases unable to travel long distances. The paypoints traditonally have been in local newsagent shops, easy to walk to and access, plus open very early in the morning to very late at night (10pm in my local shop). I have learnt it is going to be introduced that people will have to go to a Post Office to top up from January. Also the minimum had been made £5 instead of £1.........well that I can understand, in a way but it does'nt help people who are really struggling hand to mouth. But the part that is really wrong is topping up at post offices - firstly loads have been closed down anyway, the hours are limited which doesnt help those who are working to top up easily, plus it may be very difficult for disabled, or elderly people to travel the journey to a post office to just get gas/electricity! I believe this decision is hindering not helping the people most vulnerable & in difficulty in our Society, who British Gas, with their huge multi million profits yearly, surely have a duty to try & physically make it as convienient as possible to pay their utilities. To force people onto a pay as you go smart meter is not practical.....there are still people without Bank Accounts and a lot of elderly who do not have access to or know how to use a computer. Lets keep society integrated and inclusive and leave the paypoint system which works perfectly well; well alone!

As shameful as it is to admit, I knew about the problems at The Edinburgh Fringe long before the stand I am making now. I've been going as a participant and punter since 2011 and have had first-hand experience for the exploitation, shocking work-practices and health and safety concerns that many people are bravely being open about. You only need to read some of the articles of people who say 'Cambodia have better working conditions than the fringe' https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-fringe-whistleblower-says-working-16020203 - or the amazing work Unite have done around holding individual venues such as C Venues to account (and even getting the University to withhold their venues). I attended the Fringe Society AGM in August 2019 with a clear question; In the Articles of Association, it lists the powers of the Fringe Society under point. 4.1.2 to ‘to educate, support, advise, and encourage those who participate in the Arts’, SUPPORT is the word I want to concentrate on here, because I feel that this has not been publicly fulfilled as dozens upon dozens of participants in the Edinburgh Fringe have publicly declared instances of low pay, being overworked, harassed, ill-treated, who knows how many are too frightened to come forward. For example the case of Shira Kaliski, who was quoted in the Sunday Mail that the conditions working in Cambodia are better than the Edinburgh Fringe; quoted as living off ‘slave wages’ ‘working 17 hour days’ sharing a room with 3 other people, no food, in the whole month, just three days off’. I have witnessed scenes working at the fringe myself, and implored to speak out. Why hasn’t the Fringe Society supported these people under this point, why has there been no public show of empathy, I understand that society directors are asked about things beyond their control, but this issue is under the articles of association, you may say this isn’t from someone who has directly contacted you, but I am happy to sit with Shona McCarthy and any board members, the board chair to tell you and show you evidence of exploitation, negligence and actions which I am reliable informed of as illegal, I’ve endured and so have others. The great things about the Fringe Society is that we can meet here today in a supportive space, where chief executives and participants respecting each other as equals, that will listen to one another and work supportively towards positive outcomes, that is something to be applauded and championed, so please can you respond to the point; are you aware of the conditions participants are made to work in, confirm that they are illegal and do you offer empathy? I have indeed met with Shona McCarthy and have had a very good conversation about how to work towards a positive solution. The Fringe Societies powers are limited, which may be part of the problem. This petition is to show that many Edinburgh Fringe Creatives and Workers need to know that the only public face of The Edinburgh Fringe actually understands the importance of the issue, can show empathy and work towards meaningful action with the organisations who are responsible.

Its important for the well being of the patient when its serious I had Sepsis unsure if I would pull through & survive loved ones obviously are worried I was also given permission for my dog to see me much to my surprise having a loving pet also aids recovery I don't think profit on parking for visitors seriously ill or long term in hospital should have exorbitant parking charges a patient could be issued a free pass the nhs is for the people not making profit the charges should at least be much less plus a pass would allow the visitor to stay longer not keep looking at the time patients health should be considered visitors often bringing with the some magazines fruit or some food they enjoy lower the amount for visitors to pay plus not to penalise if their stay is longer than anticipated large hospitals on many levels isn't just a pop out extend your parking then go back in the patient should be put first before parking charges daily visitors could have a pass the nurse in charge of the ward will know regular visitors

We have endured 3 years of no government and yet we have continued to fund lazy, lack lustre politicians yet RCN, NIPSA and UNITE staff have lost a day’s pay rightly protesting unsafe staffing levels and lack of pay parity with the rest of the UK

This is causing people to have seizures and causes great distress and difficulties for people who struggle with seizures.

Having fled to this country for fear of her life in Burundi, this lady has achieved a successful marriage and a daughter of twelve years of age. This woman has applied for leave to remain in the UK, which has been granted by the court, appealed by the Home Office, successfully counter appealed by the High Court and again appealed by the Home Office. Her daughter, a British National will not be allowed entry into Burundi to visit her mother. Her husband likewise will not be allowed to visit his wife in Burundi. The family will be wrenched apart, the daughter and husband will suffer psychologically and the lady herself will no longer be the asset to the UK that she has been able to be. In economic terms alone, the cost to the taxpayer in funding the Home Office legal costs, the possible costs to the UK National Health Service in countering the psychological damage caused especially to the the daughter and the example set to the world of a dispassionate and uncaring, numbers driven immigration policy irrespective of the right to a normal family life must not be allowed

The people of this country cannot afford a US style insurance based health service, when so many people have existing health conditions that insurance companies wont cover, the NHS must remsin free as originally intended for the benegit of all regardless of income.

Many people, especially older folk, rely on the Red Button Service for news and information on a wide range of subjects. Not everyone has access to a mobile phone or the internet.

This is important as transgender patients are being made to wait as little as 2 years right after their referral has been sent and accepted. A further 12 months is usually the case before medication is prescribed to the patient. We are usually looking at a minimum of 3 years before medication is prescribed. Living with gender Dysphoria is a horrible thing. It can lead to depression, self harm and in extreme cases suicide. This is for us just trying to biologically be who we were born as and are meant to be. These waiting lists are far far too long

Jacob Rees Mogg went on record to suggest that those who were killed in the Grenfell Fire disaster, lacked "common sense" for not leaving the burning building. The advice the victims and residents were given was government legislation rolled out by the fire service. These comments are totally unnaceptable .The Grenfell disaster was fueled by a lack of government funding and the neglect of properties homes to some of the poorest and most minority based communities in the UK. Jacob Rees Mogg has shown his lack of sensitivity and is no longer appropriate to serve in parliament. In memory of the victims of a neglected community, abandoned by their own goverment of 9 years.

Millions of people globally smoke cigarettes and the impact the filters are having on our environment is awful.

millions of cable ties are cut and thrown in the bin every year