The proposals, which will compel telecoms companies to retain data about customer calls and internet usage for one year, comes after Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to crack down on encrypted communications over the internet. But encryption is a normal part of internet security. This is dangerous nonsense. Besides, it doesn't make us any safer. In fact, the recent shocking murder of Lee Rigby was facilitated by the fact that our security agencies have too much useless information to wade through, much of which returns false positives during keyword searches because people talk about what happened in the films or programmes they've seen, or mention that something they bought cost a bomb. They are too busy sifting through all that trying to find any useful data to go about the business of catching criminals and stopping terrorists. Indeed, most of the high profile arrests made lately were for making abusive or foolish comments online. They're not catching terrorists or criminals, they're catching people who make fools of themselves online. We are no safer. "In our country, do we want to allow a means of communication between people which we cannot read?" he asked rhetorically in justification. "In our country, do we want to force people to leave their doors and windows open to let the law enforcement and security agencies in as and when required? Do we want to grant them instant access to all our private business without question?" FIFY, Dave. Further reading - http://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/news/2391667/-snoopers-charter-sneaked-in-to-counter-terrorism-bill Please sign this petition. We stopped the Snooper's Charter for a reason. They should NOT be allowed to sneak unwanted legislation back in under the guise of amendments to existing laws. It's anti-democratic. UPDATE: A last-minute attempt to revive a "snoopers' charter" before the general election has been dropped... The BBC understands they will try again next week unless the Home Office publishes a government redraft of the bill, of which the Lords has been told... In response, the peers withdrew the proposed amendments, which threatened to enshrine the controversial measures in law, and called on the government to produce its draft... A source told the BBC that if the Home Office was to refuse that request, the "snoopers' charter" proposals would be revived once again and added to the draft counter-terrorism legislation. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31001575 Can you BELIEVE these people? Lord King is a former Conservative defense secretary, Lord Blair is a former Metropolitan Police commissioner, Lord West is a former Labour defense minister and Lord Carlile is a former Liberal Democrat reviewer of counter-terror laws. Each of them was around during the Troubles when attacks were taking place in mainland Britain and they weren't calling for mass surveillance then. Like The Terminator, they'll be back. We need to show them that we know this and that every time they try to put this in, we will be right there to yank it back out. Please keep signing this and please use https://www.writetothem.com/lords to write to each of the lords involved in this atrocious attempt to undermine our right to privacy.

First schools' plans in the Blackminster pyramid to keep year 5 children into year 6 from 2016 will seriously damage the provision at Blackminster Middle School for any year 6 students who still choose to go there and for year 7 and 8 students. It is likely that the school will be unsustainable with just two year groups and could close. There is no plan for where children in year 7 and 8 would be educated if this were to happen. There is no plan in this pyramid, which includes the De Montfort School, Bengeworth CE First, St Richard's CE First and St Andrew's CE First schools to become a two tier system. Any wish for such a huge organisational change has not been explored. The signatories below are concerned about any or all of the following considerations and urge the Governors of the named First Schools to fully consider the potential negative impact of their proposals on the education of children beyond First Schools before implementing them. - The proposed changes are not part of an overall strategic plan for our area and no work has been done to explore parent views beyond the First Schools in question, the impact of future pupil numbers on places in schools, issues around funding and continued sustainability of schools, staffing expertise and suitable accommodation for children remaining in small village schools. - The Local Authority have made it clear to heads and governors that they are not proposing any review of the three tier system in this pyramid: they cannot fund any changes which have not already been planned. There is no shortage of places so no need to effectively duplicate schools places in Y6, nor are there any educational drivers. - The proposals from First Schools are all being carried out individually, there is no coherent plan or rationale for the changes. This is forcing schools to have to work out individually how to move forward rather than working collectively. - The timescale suggested for change is unrealistic. - The experience of all other areas restructuring from 3 tier to two tier is of major disruption to children's education for several years. This is despite those restructures being strategically planned for and fully funded by their Local Authority. In this situation, there is no plan and no funding. - There is a real danger that good and excellent teachers will be lost in the potential restructuring and it is good teaching which makes the difference to children's progress, not structures and processes. - The uncertainty about the future of the pathway in the pyramid and the provision for pupils beyond first school may make parents look to other schools out of catchment. This could damage all schools in the pyramid. - School leaders are being distracted by the proposals rather than focusing on the enormous statutory changes such as a new curriculum and changes to assessment. All schools in the pyramid should be focused on school improvement and securing outstanding education across all phases. - The current system is effective but there is always room for improvement. That should be our focus. Working together is key. -

Foxes are being killed regularly by foxhounds belonging to hunters that are claiming to be trail hunting. The foxhounds should be muzzled so they do not cause any "accidental" harm to foxes or other wildlife.

Because not all parents have cars and the money for bus fares over to Gloucester which will leave families out of pocket. This could prevent parents visiing their sick child. What child wants to be in hospital with out seeing their mum and dad? I now urge the Hospital bosses to bring back the children's ward

Vodafone customers are unable to limit cellular data usage. When contracted limits are reached Vodafone sends a helpful text to advise that it will charge you for exceeding the limit. Fair enough - BUT - customers cannot opt out and self-limit until the following months allowance kicks in. Most smartphone apps and operating systems are very data hungry, even when operating in the background and not in actual use, so data allowances can be consumed without realising. Parents who fund a child's phone for safety and security reasons find this particularly stressful and difficult. Commercially it's obvious why Vodafone apply this policy - to make additional profit - but it is morally questionable if one party to the contract agreement has no power to limit charges beyond what was contractually agreed under circumstances often beyond their control. Other mobile operators have recognised this and allow limits to be self enforced, Tesco Mobile is one such responsible operator. So should Vodafone. "Always here for you?" is their service strap line "Always here to fleece you" would be more accurate.

We’re regular people being denied our statutory legal rights by Lambeth our local council. A 3 storey ‘luxury’ block is being built inches from our back gardens without consulting us - the local residents. If the development succeeds, we will lose ALL our natural light! Further despite being asked numerous times via email, in writing and during face to face meetings they have REFUSED to supply full unedited structural plans with elevations and measurements or any information about the structures being built blocking ALL of the natural lighting from residents that have been living here for up to 30 years. If Lambeth and the Developers succeed in this construction without legal consequences, they will have effectively written the rule book on how to circumvent planning laws i.e. don’t tell residents about local developments thereby denying them their legal and statutory rights to challenge them. They would have set a precedent. Residents across London will lose their rights to vital life changing information about their own neighbourhood. Help give us a voice and help others that will face this problem!

In a new report the government’s imposition of sanctions on Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants has led to a significant rise in people leaving unemployment benefits, but they are not returning to work, according to researchers at the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Sanctions are unfair, disproportionate and cruel - they are leading to the deaths of our citizens; causing suicides, mental health issues and increasing the involvement of the police, hospitals and social services. Whistleblowers are reporting that JCP staff are setting people up to fail to meet internal targets. Radio 4 reported the case of Danielle, a woman with dyslexia and learning difficulties. She had been instructed to complete 48 ‘actions’ to get work a fortnight. With her problems this was not easy. When once she had only done 47 acts she was sanctioned. She ended up dependent on food charities. There is a need for a cost-benefit analysis of sanctioning, looking at it not just in narrow terms of unemployment benefit, but also the bigger picture, focusing on employment, health, and other social costs. The senior author of the new working paper, Professor David Stuckler from Oxford has presented these fact as an expert witness before the Work and Pensions Committee: PLEASE help us and sign our petition @ABCorgdotnet

The Cardiff Alcohol and Drug team has provided an expert and effective service to people struggling with substance misuse in the Cardiff and Vale areas for nearly 30 years. Cardiff County council has decided to close it as part of a round of cuts. The service provides a team of social workers and a team of counsellors so giving a holistic approach to helping individuals and their families. They currently have around 230 people in contact with the service. It is estimated that somebody that has alcohol or drug issues will effect a further 8 people in their families and communities not to mention the pressure put upon services such as housing, criminal justice and health to name a few. The cost of the service is 218,000 pa which is less than some executive members of the council's salary and has a lot more of a positive effect.

Fairness in society, safeguarding small companies and the jobs they provide.

There is a large and thriving horse riding community in this area and ramblers and dog walkers use the footpaths. All these activities improve public health and improve wellbeing reducing the burden on an overcrowded NHS. Thanet Local Plan talks about preserving 'green wedges' between the towns to stop them merging into one but THEN suggests building on most of the land at Manston so that Manston blurs into the Thanet Towns. The Manston Parkway extends the urban sprawl from Ramsgate to Cliffsend and further land will be designated along that strip as solar plant land. If the Airport was turned into housing the site would continue from Manston Parkway to Acol as further urban sprawl. There would be very little agricultural land left in Thanet. Basically the Plan talks about the 'distinctive nature' of Thanet's villages and then shows how its going to incorporate them into one big urban sprawl Highlighting and developing brownfield sites in Urban Thanet and run down areas should be prioritised over building on grade A agricultural land along with a local plan that acknowledges the importance of preserving a Green Belt between urban and rural Thanet. The Thanet Local Plan has highlighted "Green Wedges" between the towns to help preserve their identity but has made no reference to developing further and further out across Manston until urban sprawl reaches out to the Wantsum. The Council needs to ensure that development leaves a distinctive band of green undeveloped land between the towns and villages such as Manston, Acol, Minster, Monkton, St. Nicholas. Not only is the land grade A agricultural land but it is criss crossed with footpaths and bridleways which encourage the residents of Thanet out into the countryside. If all the areas highlighted for planning were built on we would have: Manston Green joining Manston to Ramsgate Westwood joining Manston to Westwood Westage extending out to Woodchurch Birchington expanding out around the preserved green island of Quex estate China Gateway Built up. Manston Parkway at Cliffsend and further Solar developments. Expansion of Thanet Earth (for which planning has been granted) Building of entire Manston Airport site to encompass Manston Park to Minster and Acol This would make the whole of Thanet an urban sprawl.

The School belongs to the community and needs to be protected for our children now and in generations to come. We do not want our school to be privatised. The proposal to join the Howard Partnership Trust who are known to redevelop school land must be stopped NOW. WE DEMAND A BALLOT.

Pershore High School’s proposal to take in year 7 pupils from September 2016 will not only affect year 7 pupils and the organisation of the high school (including its other pupils), but it will also have an impact (in some cases a very major one) on all of the children from schools that feed into it, since it will force a complete restructuring of the whole system. The signatories below are concerned about any or all of the following and urge the Governors of Pershore High School to consider their impact before deciding upon the future of our local education system. • The proposed changes are not part of an overall strategic plan for our area, considering demographics, properly researched parent views, funding issues, staffing expertise and analysing what the best options are for our children • Schools are having to work out, individually, how to move forward, rather than collectively • Any resulting restructuring is not being endorsed, managed, nor financed by our local authority • The timescale suggested for change is unrealistic • The experience of all other areas restructuring from three- to two-tier is of major disruption to children’s education over several years (and in all of those areas millions has been injected by their local authority) • Danger is that good and excellent teachers will be lost in the restructuring – and it is good teaching that is at the very core of our children’s success, not structures and processes • Danger that parents will be put off sending their children to schools in the pyramid with such uncertainty over the future. It is certainly not helping Pershore High School’s reputation with prospective parents as it has raised awareness of concerns about issues there that could be detrimental to the welfare of the children, thereby undermining confidence in the school • School management is being distracted by this process at a time when a more onerous GCSE national curriculum is being introduced • Our current system is working well, but everything can always be improved, so shouldn’t we be concentrating on how to do that?