Jo Churchill, MP voted through the cuts to the ESA (Employment Support Allowance) for new claimants in the WRAG (Work-Related Activity Group). It is hypocritical for Jo Churchill to be gaining positive publicity by participating in this organisation's fundraising event for people who may be left worse off by this bill. Headway's Chief Executive states: "Making cuts to benefits for disabled people who have been independently assessed as being unfit for work will cause unnecessary hardship, leading to isolation and anxiety, and potentially increase their long-term dependence on state support." https://www.headway.org.uk/news/national-news/government-forces-through-esa-benefit-cut/

On 12th March two hunt monitors, one an ex-police officer, from the League Against Cruel Sports were seriously assaulted and robbed while monitoring Leicestershire’s Belvoir Hunt. They were attacked by a gang of hunt followers, some of whom were on quad bikes and wore masks. There have been arrests but, so far, the Belvoir Hunt has declined to condemn, or even comment, on the attacks. No reputable organisation should remain silent in the face of violent acts committed in its name, much less condone them. It is important that the Belvoir Hunt takes a strong position following the recent attacks and issues a statement as outlined in the petition. For more on the violent assaults see: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/men-arrested-animal-rights-charity-s-monitors/story-28913823-detail/story.html http://www.league.org.uk/news-and-opinion/videos/2016/mar/two-league-staff-brutally-assaulted-and-robbed-by-hunt-supporters Image: © Copyright Simon Mortimer and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.

A fair and inclusive education system is our right in a democratic society. Gradually this is being taken away from us with continuing funding cuts in FE, cutting out whole sections of society from the opportunity to an education. Fee paying HE students have a future of debt. And now, schools are being targeted as a source of profit. Everyone at whatever age should be able to gain an education without having to pay a profit making organisation. If schools are turned into academies it will only be a matter of time before all citizens of the UK will have to pay for their education throughout the whole of their lives. There will be no accountability, standards or commitment by these academies to serve the public interest and invest back into society with educated citizens. Tax payers will see all their hard earned taxes benefiting private interests only, and not society as a whole.

It is important, as Type 1's use these drinks to save their lives. They do not use them for fun, or for their taste. They are used purely as a lifesaver. I understand why there is a sugar tax, I am not opposed to that. I just think that the increased tax from purchases of drinks used by Type 1's should be given to research into finding a cure. Type 1 diabetics need these sugary drinks to sustains their lives. They have to correct with fast acting sugar when their blood sugars fall below target. Yes, there are glucose tablets available. But, these are not as readily available as sugary drinks, and sometimes they are hard to chew and swallow, depending on how bad the low is. So therefore, these drinks are invaluable to Type 1's, and it is totally unfair that they are penalised with this new sugar tax, which is designed to stop members of the public from gorging on them, and thus creating an extra strain on the NHS with diseases and ailments caused by being overweight. I want George Osborne to donate a small percentage of this extra revenue to research to find a cure for this disease.

By targeting the most precious and valued greenbelt land in the Village of Chalfont St Giles for possible housing or commercial development (Local Plan page 40) Chiltern District Council lost the confidence of local residents. The meadows were purchased with public funds by CDC in 2002 and should be preserved for future generations, they define and contribute significantly to the character of our historic village. The Meadows are set on an active flood plain and are unsuited to any development. Classed as An Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty the meadows contain a rare and precious chalk stream river that flows through the picturesque Misbourne Valley. Home to protected wild life, flora and fauna the meadows are enjoyed by residents and visitors from all over the world.

Unconventional Fossil Fuels extraction and the Volatile Organic Compounds that are released as gasses and liquid spills are inherently dangerous, and we have plenty of evidence from other countries that it causes major damage to life and health. If this industry is to be allowed to operate in this country close to people they should be regulated and monitored stringently. If the cost has to come from the industry then so be it, we need to ensure that the public, animals and environment are safe, and so far with calls to the sites that have been active in the UK the response from the EA has been less than desirable; lying and failing in their duties. Millions of lives are at risk if these wells leak, we need to prevent this from happening. At this moment in time there is no public safety net from this industry who are releasing contaminants into the atmosphere.

We all benefit from libraries. Libraries are free and available for us all. They are a force for good, a tool for learning and a refuge for the dispossessed. Libraries provide a quiet space for studying. They offer free access to the Internet. By trying to eliminate the deficit George Osborne is forcing local authorities to close libraries. How wonderful if our monarch could save them!

The Tories are pushing through legislation to remove all secondary and primary schools from Local Authority control by 2020 by turning them into academies. This is the free market gone mad and it must not be allowed to infect our education system. Schools are places of teaching and learning. They are not businesses and should not be run for profit. There is no evidence that academies are performing better than state schools. In fact Michael Wilshaw, Head of Ofsted has recently highlighted how many of the academy chains are underperforming. Academies do not have to teach the National Curriculum, can pay teachers what they like, can set their own holidays and impose longer days on their students, longer lessons and shorter holidays. in other words there is no parity of regulation. Academy Heads are not required to have been teachers themselves so have scant knowledge of running a school. This will spell the end of national pay scales for teachers and will be a disaster for our young people. This is total privatisation of the primary and secondary sector and cannot be allowed to happen.

No-one asks to be disabled. My partner has MS and was working right up until the disease struck. She bravely endures her disability, like many people do. Her ESA is a vital element to provide assistance and a small measure of Independence in a life, without which, would rapidly become completely joyless. Many other people rely upon this, too. This is not the action of a humane government.

If such large quantities of Black PET are being used in the food industry to sell food in all supermarkets, then this recyclable resource needs to be used for the manufacture of further new Black containers, rather than being buried in the soil at further cost to the tax payer, let alone the careless damage done to the environment. Please change our policy for the better. Thanks.

Reading has been without a Speedway and Greyhound Stadium for nearly 8 years, following our forced ejection from Smallmead and the failure of Stadia UK to start the construction of a New Stadium, even though they had the full support of Reading Council and the Speedway supporter s of the Racers Club. Recently, there has been a groundswell of interest in resurrecting old Speedway clubs, in Cradley, Oxford, Exeter, and Weymouth for example. The "Reading Speedway Action Group" Committee, are looking to form a Supporters Trust and get aboard this bandwagon and have speedway once again in Reading and the Winged Wheel flying high. To achieve our aims we need YOU to sign this petition to show Reading Council that there is sufficient support for this project. The more that sign, the more leverage and empowerment we will hold. Please sign NOW and help bring back the Racers. It costs nothing except 5 minutes of your time. Follow us on Facebook "Reading Speedway Action Group". https://www.facebook.com/Reading-Speedway-Action-Group-490790471107024/?fref=ts

Forcing schools to become academies centralises the decision making power, taking it away from local authorities and makes schools cater to the needs of industry. Academies are underperforming compared to schools run by local authorities, and results frequently skew the figures by adding vocational qualifications.. A number of academies are already failing. Greater pressure can be exercised by academies on their teaching staff, forcing them to work weekends and holidays without the right to unionise. Pupils are not safer either, often ignored in 'study centres' or on exclusion if they don't conform. We urge you to reconsider this dangerously undemocratic move.