A costly procurement process for community health and social care in Bath & N.E. Somerset is currently under way, because all health contracts must now be put out to competitive tender. At the moment, these services are provided by Sirona, which is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company. The procurement process is in its final stages prior to the award of a new seven-year, £70 million per annum contract. Apart from Sirona, the only other organisation now shortlisted for this contract is Virgin Care Ltd. Virgin Care Ltd pays no corporation tax in the UK and should therefore not profit from the UK taxpayer. It is part of a group whose ultimate parent company is based in the British Virgin Islands, which is a tax haven. Virgin Care does not currently record a profit in the UK after administrative expenses, but the company’s structure makes it unlikely to pay any tax in the UK in the foreseeable future(ref.1 below) Despite this, since entering the health market in 2010 Virgin Care has been awarded contracts worth over £1 billion, with several large contracts in community health. (ref. 2) If this contract is awarded to Virgin, it will contribute to the rapidly advancing privatisation of the NHS. A report two years ago by an international panel of experts working for the Commonwealth Fund declared the NHS to be the best healthcare system and rated its care superior to that of countries that spend far more on health. The Commonwealth Fund, a Washington-based foundation, is respected around the world for its analysis of the performance of different countries’ health systems.(ref.3) The NHS should remain a publicly provided, publicly funded health service for the benefit of all UK citizens, not for the benefit of those who wish to make a profit. My partner has had an excellent service from Sirona since being diagnosed last year with Parkinson's Disease . We fear that this provision will be greatly reduced if Virgin are awarded the contract and make cuts in order to provide profits. 1. http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/mar/21/ow-lucrative--deals-go-to-firms-that-use-tax-havens 2. http://www.nhsforsale.info/private-providers/private-provider-profiles-2/virgin.html 3. http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/17/nhs-health

The DfT's delay is blighting sales of electric bikes. Orders for hundreds of e-bikes have been put on hold while potential customers await the introduction of the incentive. The failure to implement the e-bike grants could cost jobs in the motorcycle industry and undermines the Government's repeated claims to be promoting green transport. Unlike the grants for cars and vans, a plug-in grant for electric motorcycles would also cut congestion.

The use of glyphosates has already been banned or restricted in 8 countries. It is not acceptable that ourselves, our children and the animals we share our community with are being routinely exposed to these chemicals whether we like it or not. This is a matter of great importance for those of us who care about each other's health and the health of our children, our cats, our dogs and all the flora and fauna of this city, of course including our beloved bees. If you don't live in this area, click here to start a campaign for your city: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/start-a-pesticide-campaign

Betting shops have become not merely a feature of British high streets but a plague. In some areas one can see several of them in a row, punctuated by pound and charity shops, the juxtaposition making sense because after time in a betting shop that is what most punters can afford. As well as ruing lives these places are also an aesthetic disaster, their garish blank colours particular destroying whatever is still visually pleasing about the centres of some of our finest cities. The government can do something about this, and if it means driving gambling underground, so be it - let's drive it underground!

It is important because: 1: It is very hard to believe that he spent nothing on transport. 2:He is very close to his spending limit and may exceed that if transport costs were even reasonably substantial for such a large constituency as he campaigned within/for. 3:In the interests of democracy, it is important to know whether David Mundell has exceeded this limit. 4:If there is any misrepresentation of the facts, then I consider that a very serious matter for a person of such high office.

The use of glyphosates has already been banned or restricted in 8 countries. It is not acceptable that ourselves, our children and the animals we share our community with are being routinely exposed to these chemicals whether we like it or not. This is a matter of great importance for those of us who care about each other's health and the health of our children, our cats, our dogs and all the flora and fauna of this city, of course including our beloved bees. If you don't live in this area, click here to start a campaign for your city: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/start-a-pesticide-campaign

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!!!!

Islington is the borough with the fewest green spaces in the whole of London. Highbury Fields is a precious open space that the people of Islington have enjoyed for more than 250 years. But it is being threatened by the council's inability to manage the public health and safety risks caused by the huge number of barbecue parties on Highbury Fields. A simple survey done by Islington Council in August 2015 shows that about half of the users of the park come from outside the borough. Other councils in London have decided that their green spaces should be for everybody not just those who barbecue. But in Islington those who simply want to enjoy the open air on Highbury Fields find themselves in a smoke zone. These are the main dangers threatening the Fields and why you should be concerned: AIR POLLUTION A dangerous pollutant known as PM2.5* is released into the atmosphere when burning charcoal in barbeques. In 2015, multiple spot readings were taken of PM2.5 levels using personal monitors. Kings College London's Pollution Unit produced a report which showed that barbeques on Highbury Fields were affecting PM2.5 concentrations on and adjacent to the park - some of these spot readings were extremely high (rivalling those of Delhi and Beijing) This means that users of the park, passers-by and residents were exposed, the amount of exposure being greater the closer to the lit barbecues. The study also showed that the levels measured were 2-3 times worse than that of the traffic at Marylebone Road - a major trunk road (where King's have a monitoring station). Short term pollution can affect health - coughs, wheezes, increase in hospital admissions, strokes and heart attacks, worsening of asthma, smarting of eyes, headaches, sore throats, etc. DEFRA states that: Exposure to high concentrations of PM2.5 (e.g. during short term pollution episodes) can [also] exacerbate lung and heart conditions, significantly affecting quality of life and increase deaths and hospital admissions. Children, the elderly and those with predisposed respiratory and cardiovascular disease, are known to be more susceptible to the health impacts from air pollution (http://laqm.defra.gov.uk/public-health/pm25.html). The World Health Organisation states that small particulate pollution (PM) have health impacts even at very low concentrations - indeed no threshold has been identified below which no damage to health is observed. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/ In other words, even small concentrations can have an impact on health and there is no safe level of PM. Some residents living in the vicinity of the park (who arguably are exposed to longer periods of pollution) have significant health problems including respiratory illnesses. Some have difficulty in breathing - their health and wellbeing are seriously affected by the high levels of PM2.5 coming from the smoke from barbeques, and they have nowhere else to go. A 2nd scientific study was undertaken last year, which confirmed the findings of the King's report. There was a strong correlation between barbecues on Highbury Fields and PM2.5 exposure, as measured by a fixed monitoring station 25 meters away. This occurred during weekends and weekdays too, and at times, persisted for hours. Yet Islington Council has ignored advise that PM2.5 pollution levels during barbecues are extremely high and does nothing to stop the smoke wafting over children's play areas in the Fields. Barbecues are banned in most of the parks of London on safety and health grounds. But Islington continues to encourage them and says "there are no public health grounds" for changing their policy. *PM2.5 are tiny particles produced in barbeque smoke which are so small they can penetrate deep into the lungs. Long term effects on health include stunted lung growth in children, lung cancer, asthma and early death. It is also implicated in dementia and diabetes. DAMAGE TO GRASS As Islington's barbecue policy attracts growing crowds from the boroughs where barbecues are banned, the park's grass has become scorched with hundreds of burnt patches. Last year one spot count revealed more than 230 deep burns - unsightly, sad and unnecessary. But Islington's environment department says this level of damage is not excessive. LITTER Rubbish has become a major issue. Scores of hot disposable barbecue units are discarded and food debris, bottle and broken glass are left strewn across the Fields. Animals on the Fields suffer from cuts or eat plastic and inappropriate food and become ill. Discarded food attracts foxes, rodents and pigeons - all pests and a threat to health. Dog walkers, strollers and joggers and those who simply want to sit and enjoy the Fields all have to suffer them looking like a rubbish tip. This Summer, a resident counted 82 bins altogether in the park servicing the immense amount of rubbish generated by barbeque users. FIRE Each year the Fire Brigade is called to put out fires started by those who barbecue. Fire engines have had to attend on two consecutive days in May this year. Each visit costs hundreds of pounds. HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS All users of the Fields are at risk from hot coals, bin fires, metal grills from disposable barbecues, broken glass and debris left behind. It's an accident waiting to happen. HIGHBURY FIELDS FOREVER For over 250 years Highbury Fields and its leafy walks have provided a haven for the people of Islington. In 1885 Islington Council and the Metropolitan Board of Works purchased the Fields as a "lung of the parish" essential to the health and well being of the thickly - peopled district surrounding it. Thousands of us have pushed our prams, taken our first steps, learned to ride our bikes, courted, skated, picnicked, walked our dogs and played on the Fields. Help to keep Highbury Fields for all of us.

The use of glyphosates has already been banned or restricted in 8 countries. It is not acceptable that ourselves, our children and the animals we share our community with are being routinely exposed to these chemicals whether we like it or not. This is a matter of great importance for those of us who care about each other's health and the health of our children, our cats, our dogs and all the flora and fauna of this city, of course including our beloved bees. If you don't live in this area, click here to start a campaign for your city: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/start-a-pesticide-campaign

The use of glyphosates has already been banned or restricted in 8 countries. It is not acceptable that ourselves, our children and the animals we share our community with are being routinely exposed to these chemicals whether we like it or not. This is a matter of great importance for those of us who care about each other's health and the health of our children, our cats, our dogs and all the flora and fauna of this city, of course including our beloved bees. If you don't live in this area, click here to start a campaign for your city: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/start-a-pesticide-campaign

The Living Wage is a voluntary hourly rate set independently and updated annually. The Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK. The current UK Living Wage is £8.25 a hour. As a result, this should be the minimum amount people in the UK are paid each hour to ensure that their wages cover the basic costs of living. In light of the above and the fact that the Premier League's television deal will see the 20 clubs in England's top flight share around £8.3 billion between now and 2019, we believe that a percentage of this income could be spent on paying their employees the Living Wage. Therefore, we petition Watford Football Club to use their share in the new television deal to ensure their staff are paid the Living Wage. If you want to get in contact with us, please see the links below. Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youngwatfordgreens/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/younggreenswd

Join the RMT and other Trade Unions in opposition to removing the Guard (Conductor) from Abellio ScotRail services. The recent incident at East Dumbarton, where a traveller sadly suffered from life changing injuries, shows how unsafe Driver Only Operation has become. In this incident it emerged that a group of teenagers raised the alarm to oncoming trains. This was a incident that could've easily been avoided were there a Guard on the service. In the 2 weeks leading up to the end of May we found that a Taxi Driver had to assist a wheelchair passenger off a DOO service at Livingston North as there was only a driver on the train and no second person, another issue that could've been resolved were there a Guard on this service. Further we have seen the ScotRail MD Phil Verster openly tell his employees, via social media,  that if a passenger comes running to the train late then the train must depart on time as it could cause a delay to other services - if you know the industry you will know that delays to services cost money - a example of safety over profit. Safety before profit delivers safe trains for Scotland's people, the model that Abellio ScotRail want to follow delivers a unsafe method of operation for Scotland's rail users. Indeed the whole project is about two things; 1) cutting ScotRails wage bill and 2) maximising shareholder profit. Please sign and share this petition widely, join the campaign to keep Scotland's Rail Services Safe.