{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions.json?page=20&parliament=1&state=with_response","first":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions.json?parliament=1&state=with_response","last":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions.json?page=20&parliament=1&state=with_response","next":null,"prev":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions.json?page=19&parliament=1&state=with_response"},"data":[{"type":"archived-petition","id":171296,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/171296.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2015-2017","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2017-05-03T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Stop the down grading of Macclesfield hospital, keeping full service provision.","background":"Macclesfield District General Hospital provides acute care for the people of Cheshire and Derbyshire. If it were to lose this care provision of ICU and Emergency department, lives would be lost due to extended transfers times to other hospitals. ","additional_details":"The hospitals who patients would be diverted to are currently all breaching the 4 hour wait and themselves under considerable financial and logistical pressures. \r\nThe treatment for patients with stroke, heart attack and sepsis are time dependent. There is not the capacity in infrastructure to make closing hospitals such as Macclesfield viable without threatening patients lives\r\n","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":10265,"created_at":"2016-11-04T10:12:40.788Z","updated_at":"2017-09-09T06:21:46.332Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2016-11-09T09:31:02.182Z","closed_at":"2017-05-02T23:01:00.000Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2016-11-04T11:09:43.469Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2016-12-01T09:42:52.233Z","government_response_at":"2016-12-13T11:26:55.307Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2016-12-13","summary":"The NHS is working across Cheshire and Merseyside to develop plans to transform health and care in the area. Local NHS leaders announced 25 November that Macclesfield Hospital will retain A&E.","details":"The Cheshire and Merseyside Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) was published on 16 November (https://www.easterncheshireccg.nhs.uk/News/Plan-provides-a-new-vision-for-long-term-sustainable-health-and-care-for-people-across-Cheshire-and-Merseyside.htm).  This sets out the priorities for the future of health and care in the region building on local plans that have been developed across the Cheshire and Merseyside area, including the Caring Together Programme in Eastern Cheshire.  The plans look at supporting people to stay well, providing better coordinated services, improving hospital care and making most efficient use of resources and greater use of technology.\n\nOne of the many projects outlined in the STP is a review of how emergency care is delivered in Eastern Cheshire.  On 25 November, the Eastern Cheshire Caring Together Programme provided clarity on the future of the A&E department at Macclesfield Hospital, giving an assurance that Macclesfield Hospital will continue to have an A&E department.  The Caring Together Programme is currently exploring models of care that will ensure the future clinical and financial sustainability of services and that include the provision of an A&E department at Macclesfield. It should be emphasised that the STP process is still at an early stage and no decisions have yet been taken. No changes to the services people currently receive will be made without local engagement. If final plans propose service changes, formal consultation will follow in due course in line with good practice and legislative requirements.\n\nThe Government is clear that all service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. Any changes must meet the four tests for service change: they should have support from GP commissioners, be based on clinical evidence, demonstrate public and patient engagement, and consider patient choice.  It is right that these matters are addressed at a level where local healthcare needs are best understood rather than in Whitehall.\n\nDepartment of Health","created_at":"2016-12-13T11:26:55.304Z","updated_at":"2016-12-13T11:26:55.304Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":104343,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/104343.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2015-2017","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2017-05-03T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Introduce a UK National Day to celebrate our United Kingdom.","background":"The United Kingdom is one of the only countries in the world without a national day to celebrate the country.\r\n\r\nThis could be held annually on the May Day Bank Holiday and used to mark the anniversary of the Acts of Union which created our United Kingdom on the 1st of May, 1707. ","additional_details":"","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":10221,"created_at":"2015-07-20T14:23:55.941Z","updated_at":"2017-09-09T06:04:39.398Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2015-07-20T15:03:20.240Z","closed_at":"2016-01-20T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2015-07-20T14:54:57.194Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2015-12-13T09:46:45.514Z","government_response_at":"2016-01-27T14:54:48.803Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2016-01-27","summary":"Government currently has no plans to create a UK national day. There are existing national days of celebration and other traditions that provide a focus for National celebrations. ","details":"The UK currently has no unique national day. However, there are a number of days of celebration, and others, which are associated with celebrating the constituent countries of Britain and their traditions. \n\nExisting days of celebration include, St George's Day in England, St Andrew's Day in Scotland, St David's Day in Wales and St Patrick's Day in Northern Ireland.\n\nOver the years there have been various suggestions from the public for days of celebration and new bank holidays, however the current pattern is well established and accepted.  \n\nAlthough, it has been celebrated since ancient times in many locations throughout the UK, the early May Day bank holiday has only been in existence in the UK since legislation was passed in 1978. More recently it has been associated with workers’ rights groups who choose to march or protest on this day to raise awareness of their causes. \n\nDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport","created_at":"2016-01-27T14:54:48.799Z","updated_at":"2016-01-27T14:54:48.799Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":183806,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/183806.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2015-2017","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2017-05-03T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Teresa May to recognise endometriosis under the equality act 2010","background":"This is a debilitating illness that affects 1 in 10 women in the UK. It's a chronic condition that causes painful and heavy periods. It has a significant impact on a woman's life in a number of ways including chronic pain, fatigue and depression. The cause is unknown and there is no definitive cure.","additional_details":"Women who suffer often face criticism from their employer and sometimes can lead to them leaving employment. Women endure so much when they are suffering and may even be faced with infertility. The last thing they need is to worry about their work life. Endometriosis needs to be formally recognised under the equality act  2010. In other countries it is recognised as a disability.","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":10221,"created_at":"2017-02-08T02:26:53.534Z","updated_at":"2017-10-30T15:39:43.321Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2017-02-15T10:44:07.327Z","closed_at":"2017-05-02T23:01:00.000Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2017-02-08T03:23:17.252Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2017-04-29T13:06:50.970Z","government_response_at":"2017-07-10T09:28:37.097Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2017-07-10","summary":"The Equality Act protects anyone with a physical or mental impairment causing substantial, long-term effect on daily activities from discrimination, avoiding the need to list specific conditions.","details":"The Equality Act 2010 defines disability as “a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”.  ‘Long-term’ is described as having lasted or likely to last for at least 12 months, or likely to last for the rest of a person’s life.  ‘Substantial’ is defined as more than minor or trivial.  \n\nIf any person has a condition whose effect falls within the definition of a disability, the Act will confer on them a number of protections, such as protection from direct discrimination or benefitting from the requirement that an employer or service provider make reasonable adjustments for that person.  This will apply to women with endometriosis in the same way that it would apply to people with any other condition that would meet the criteria for a disability.  It is not necessary to have an official medical diagnosis in order to meet the criteria under the Act, although this may help, as long as the person can demonstrate the substantial and long term effect of their condition.  Official guidance on factors to be taken into account when determining what illness could fall under the definition of disability is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/85038/disability-definition.pdf.  \n\nEmployers and service providers alike are required to ensure that disabled people are not treated less favourably compared to those who are not disabled and must make reasonable adjustments for them to avoid placing them at a disadvantage.  In the case of service providers, such as shops or restaurants, they have the additional duty of having to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that their disabled service-users may require.  This could include providing a shelf or a table in disabled toilets, on which users can place their equipment and accessories or step-free access to the premises to enable wheelchair users to enter and exit more easily.\n\nThe Act does not, except in a few specific instances (e.g. cancer, HIV & MS), mention by name any medical conditions that constitute a disability within the meaning of the Act, as it is, in most cases, the impact on the person’s life that is the qualifying criteria rather than the condition itself.  \n\nGovernment believes that this is a more effective way of protecting those with impairments since the severity and duration of many conditions can vary so greatly between individuals, as would the impact on the individual’s day-to-day life.  \n\nFor further advice, people can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), which provides free bespoke advice and in-depth support to individuals with any discrimination concerns.  The EASS can be contacted via its website - http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/, or it can be contacted by telephone on 0808 8000082 (or by text phone on 0808 8000084).\n\nEmployees can also contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) if they have work related concerns.  Acas provides authoritative and impartial advice free to employees or employers to help prevent or resolve workplace problems via their website (www.acas.org.uk) and telephone helpline (08457 47 47 47). \n\nGovernment Equalities Office","created_at":"2017-07-10T09:28:37.094Z","updated_at":"2017-07-10T09:28:37.094Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":167371,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/167371.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2015-2017","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2017-05-03T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Everyone in the UK must have a vote on who is elected Mayor of London.","background":"Sadiq Kahn has been getting involved in foreign political matters and policies that affect not just London but the rest of the UK. If any Mayor of London can meddle (Unchecked) in political activities that affect the whole of the UK, then the whole of the UK should have a say in who is Mayor!","additional_details":"His pro-Hillary Clinton tour of the United States, whose appointment will have an affect on everyone in the UK.\r\nHis joint venture with Obama to tackle anti hate speech against Muslims online.. no mention of hate crimes committed by Muslims. He recently quoted “too many white men” working for the city’s underground train service. ","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":10215,"created_at":"2016-09-18T00:19:43.299Z","updated_at":"2017-09-09T06:20:25.992Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2016-09-21T10:03:02.423Z","closed_at":"2017-03-21T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2016-09-18T01:55:33.173Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2017-03-20T22:22:39.126Z","government_response_at":"2017-04-06T13:05:41.193Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2017-04-06","summary":"The Mayor of London has a right to put forward his views on national issues in the same way as those holding other elected office throughout the Country.","details":"As part of the continued devolution of powers to London, it is important that strong and active leadership is provided in the form of the Mayor of London. The Government has previously expressed its support for the localisation of power where good leadership and accountability could be provided. The London Mayor is part of this, exercising considerable power over a number of policy areas.\n\nA strong and vibrant London is essential to the wider economy and it is right that the Mayor of London is able to put forward his opinions on issues that he deems will influence this. The same ability to put forward opinions for consideration is available to all elected leaders, many of whom do so.\n\nFurthermore, it is the residents of London who fund the services provided by the Greater London Authority via precepts and therefore up to them to hold the Mayor to account at the ballot box.\n\nDepartment for Communities and Local Government","created_at":"2017-04-06T13:05:41.190Z","updated_at":"2017-04-06T13:05:41.190Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":106636,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/106636.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2015-2017","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2017-05-03T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Amend the Animal Welfare Act;make it illegal to leave an animal in a hot vehicle","background":"We would like to see a change to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to make it illegal to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal through leaving it unattended in a hot vehicle, long enough to result in any level of discomfort to that animal.  ","additional_details":"My name is Claire Grundy, I'm the Operations Manager of Birchwood Shopping Centre, Warrington. As part of Shopping Centre life we experience many things, including the seasonal issue of dogs left in cars in unbearable heat. Despite many powerful campaigns, some pet owners still leave their beloved pets in their vehicles during hot weather, possibly unaware of the dangerous physical affects to the animal. If the animal dies this is handled by the Animal Welfare Act – but isn't death far too late?","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":10184,"created_at":"2015-08-25T16:39:18.445Z","updated_at":"2018-07-11T13:28:04.100Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2015-08-26T12:43:35.558Z","closed_at":"2016-02-26T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2015-08-25T18:38:58.195Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2016-02-26T21:52:05.499Z","government_response_at":"2016-03-08T14:23:32.589Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2016-03-08","summary":"The Animal Welfare Act is one of the most comprehensive pieces of legislation to protect animal welfare anywhere in the world. There is therefore no need to change the law as suggested.","details":"The Animal Welfare Act 2006 is the principal animal welfare legislation. There are significant penalties for committing an offence under the Act. Anyone who is cruel to an animal, or does not provide for its welfare needs, may be banned from owning animals, face an unlimited fine or be sent to prison.  The Government takes animal welfare issues very seriously and it is one of its priorities to ensure that, as far as possible, all animals in the care of humans are looked after appropriately. \n\nhttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/contents \n\nThere are codes of practice for the welfare of dogs, cats, horses (including other equidae) and privately kept non-human primates. They provide owners and keepers with information on how to meet the welfare needs of their animals, as required under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. They can also be used in courts as evidence in cases brought before them relating to poor welfare. The codes apply to England only (Wales and Scotland have their own equivalent codes), and are in force from 6 April 2010.\n\nUnder the 2006 Act, it is an offence either to cause any captive animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for the welfare needs of the animal.  Anyone who is cruel to an animal, or does not provide for its welfare needs, may be banned from owning animals, face an unlimited fine, be sent to prison or both.  The court may, in addition to any other punishment on conviction, deprive a person of ownership of an animal as it thinks fit, if it is satisfied that to leave the animal with the owner would expose it to further cruelty. The court may also disqualify the person convicted from having custody of any animal for such a period (including life) as it thinks fit.\n\nThere have been occasions in the past where prosecutions have been made to those who have left dogs in hot cars, resulting in the death of the animal. Therefore there is no need to amend the Animal Welfare Act as it stands because this falls under the existing legislation: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/section/4 \n\nDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs","created_at":"2016-03-08T14:23:32.587Z","updated_at":"2016-03-08T14:23:32.587Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":122293,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/122293.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2015-2017","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2017-05-03T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Make it law so that the NHS will always be in public hands","background":"It's the case that the current government wants to run the NHS into the ground by severely underfunding it. By making this law it will still be funded by the people, for all the people, and not treated as a profit making business where the quality of your care depends on your wealth.","additional_details":"","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":10165,"created_at":"2016-02-19T22:00:11.537Z","updated_at":"2017-09-09T06:11:42.109Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2016-03-21T11:14:04.867Z","closed_at":"2016-09-21T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2016-02-21T12:06:42.724Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2016-08-14T08:46:46.629Z","government_response_at":"2016-09-28T09:21:33.771Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2016-09-28","summary":"The Government is committed to an NHS free at the point of use and funded by general taxation, and has committed that funding will be £10 billion higher in real terms by 2020-21 compared to 2014-15.  ","details":"This Government remains committed to a publicly funded National Health Service, and there is no truth to the claims that the government wants to move the NHS out of public hands. The respected Kings Fund has said that “Claims of mass privatisation were and are exaggerated”. \n\nIndependent providers have been providing care to NHS patients under successive Governments. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 prevented discrimination in favour of providers on the basis of their ownership, and as such it is illegal to favour an introduction of the private sector into the NHS. The Act also ensures that local clinical staff in Clinical Commissioning Groups, and not politicians, are responsible for making decisions about who provides care to patients, with a focus on ensuring that patients get the best services and outcomes. \n\nThe Government has increased spending on the NHS as a proportion of total Government spending every year since 2010. In the Spending review in November 2015, the Government committed to increase funding for the NHS in England, with funding to be £10 billion higher in real terms by 2020-21, compared to 2014-15. This £10bn meets the funding request from the NHS in England and will fund and support the NHS’s own plan for the future, the Five Year Forward View, which sets out the changes required and how these will be achieved. This includes a £1.8 billion Sustainability and Transformation Fund to support providers to move to a financially sustainable footing. \n\nDepartment of Health","created_at":"2016-09-28T09:21:33.768Z","updated_at":"2016-09-28T09:21:33.768Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":126845,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/126845.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2015-2017","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2017-05-03T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Step in & safely reunite refugee minors in the EU with their families in the UK","background":"On April 1st Muhammed Hassan squeezed onto a lorry to try and reach his uncle in Manchester. He was 17 and died that night. Muhammed had a legal right to reunite with his family and continuing government failure to step in and reunite these families is leaving hundreds of minors and children at risk","additional_details":"In law refugee children in the EU have a right to reunite with their families. The process for this is broken. Just a handful of children have been reunited after months of legal battles.\r\n\r\nIn February 120,000 of us warned that unless government set up an expedited process in Calais that children would be left at risk. Now a minor who fled “Islamic State” has died just 14 miles from the Prime Minister’s house trying to reach his uncle. No more children should die trying to reach their loved ones.","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":10156,"created_at":"2016-04-06T21:55:40.123Z","updated_at":"2017-09-09T06:13:23.373Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2016-04-08T15:46:12.199Z","closed_at":"2016-10-08T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2016-04-06T22:36:54.218Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2016-07-03T18:14:57.795Z","government_response_at":"2016-08-03T09:12:34.678Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2016-08-03","summary":"The Government is working with Member States to ensure family reunification under the Dublin Regulation works effectively. Plans to resettle unaccompanied refugee children from Europe are underway.","details":"The death of Muhammad Hassan was a tragedy and our thoughts are with his family.  This tragic incident further highlights the dangers of making perilous journeys across the Channel.\n\nThe Government continues to work with key EU Member States, including France, to ensure the Dublin Regulation family reunification process works effectively. Under the UK-France Joint Declaration, the UK and France have committed to ensuring that the provisions of the Dublin III Regulation are used efficiently and effectively.  To assist the handling of such cases, the two Governments have established a permanent official contact group, agreed single points of contact within respective Dublin Units and a UK asylum expert was seconded to the French administration to facilitate the improvement of all stages of the process.  The UK and France are running regular joint communication campaigns in northern France which inform unaccompanied children and others of their right to claim asylum in France. \n\nBetween the start of January 2016 and 2 July 2016, our records indicate that the UK has accepted over 50 requests from France under the Dublin Regulation to take charge of asylum seeking children on family grounds of which more than 40 have already been transferred to the UK. Between the start of January 2016 and 2 July 2016, our records indicate that the UK has accepted over 40 requests from the rest of Europe (excluding France) under the Dublin Regulation to take charge of asylum seeking children on family grounds of which more than 15 have already been transferred to the UK.\n\nFurthermore, we have started to implement the Immigration Act 2016 commitment to work with local authorities on plans to bring refugee children from Europe. Over 20 children who meet the criteria in the Immigration Act have been accepted for transfer to the UK since Royal Assent in May, the majority of whom have already arrived in the UK. As is required by the Immigration Act 2016, we are consulting with local authorities to confirm available capacity and to ensure appropriate support systems are in place. We are in active discussions with the UNHCR, UNICEF, NGOs and the Italian, Greek and French governments to strengthen and speed up mechanisms to identify, assess and transfer children who meet the criteria to the UK where this in their best interests.\n\nWe have always been clear that we want to support family reunification as much as possible. It is important to use the tools available to help children reunite with family wherever possible. We will prioritise cases with family links to the UK and where possible work within existing frameworks to ensure swift action is taken to assist these children.\n\nWe must put the best interests of children first, and avoid any policy that places children at additional risk or encourages them to place their lives in the hands of the people traffickers and criminal gangs.  In any response, we need to be very careful not to inadvertently create a situation in which families see an advantage in sending children ahead, putting their lives at risk by attempting perilous sea crossings to Europe.\n\nIn terms of support to Europe, we are providing significant assistance to Member States facing particular pressures to ensure that all refugees can have effective access to protection, wherever they are. The UK is the largest bilateral humanitarian contributor to the ongoing situation in Europe and the Balkans with a total contribution of £65 million.  This includes nearly £46 million to provide life-saving aid to the most vulnerable migrants and refugees including food, water, hygiene kits and infant packs, and protection for the most vulnerable, as well as support to organisations helping governments build their capacity to manage arrivals in Greece and the Balkans.\n\nIt also includes the £10 million Refugee Children Fund the Department for International Development (DFID) has created to support the needs of vulnerable refugee and migrant children specifically in Europe. The fund will support three specialist and mandated organisations (UNHCR, Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee) to work with host authorities to care for and assist unaccompanied or separated children in Europe and the Balkans. \n\nHome Office","created_at":"2016-08-03T09:12:34.676Z","updated_at":"2016-08-03T09:12:34.676Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":122773,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/122773.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2015-2017","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2017-05-03T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Increase funding rate for 3-4 year olds needing to provide pensions for staff.","background":"This problem affects all providers of early years child care where funding has not increased in parallel with rises in costs of provision.  .  \r\nWe are a small setting having a maximum of 12 children, The increase in the minimum wage along with need to provide a pension will close us.","additional_details":"Following the petition regarding increased hourly funding rate for 2-4 year olds in early years settings which received 10,056 signatures we now have not only an increase in the minimum wage but also the need to provide pensions for staff.  The cost of running a pension scheme, particularly in small settings which provide high quality child care, will cause many such settings to close.  This is a nation wide problem and will affect our children's future.","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":10131,"created_at":"2016-02-24T11:42:03.406Z","updated_at":"2017-09-09T06:11:53.269Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2016-03-16T17:51:52.905Z","closed_at":"2016-09-16T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2016-03-12T08:17:30.019Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2016-07-19T13:34:44.795Z","government_response_at":"2016-09-29T15:22:58.529Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2016-09-29","summary":"Childcare providers are passionate believers in high-quality early education and we want to support them to deliver the best possible outcomes for children.","details":"That’s why this Government is increasing funding for the early years and will be investing over £1billion more per year by 2019-20 in the delivery of free early education and childcare.\n\nEnsuring that all children access high-quality early education remains a key priority for the Government. The quality of childcare continues to rise, with 86% of settings rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. \n\nTo deliver the extended 30-hour free entitlement, and ensure that all children can continue to benefit from high quality early education, we need to get the funding right and ensure that early years providers are funded on a fair and sustainable basis. We have committed to increasing the average hourly rate paid to providers for delivering free childcare and the £1 billion extra annual funding includes £300 million per year for a significant increase to government funding rates.\nFrom April 2017, the national average funding rate will increase to £4.88 for three and four year olds, and £5.39 for two year olds. These new average rates were informed by our six-month review of the cost of providing childcare which was published in November 2015. This examined how much it costs to deliver childcare and also considered how these costs might change in the future. It is a comprehensive and evidence-based review and was described by the National Audit Office as “thorough and wide-ranging”. It can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-childcare-costs.\n\nWe acknowledge however that more funding, even if it is at record levels, is only part of the answer. We must also ensure that funding is distributed fairly and transparently across the country, and reaches providers so that they receive a fair and sustainable rate for delivering free childcare. This is why we have committed to introduce a national funding formula for early years. This will help ensure that funding is transparently and fairly matched to need, and fairly distributed between different types of providers and different parts of the country. \n\nWe have just finished consulting on our proposed early years national funding formula as well as other changes to the way we fund the three and four year old entitlement. Our consultation included suggestions to ensure that as much as possible of the early years funding that local authorities receive from central government is passed on to frontline providers. As a result of our proposals, together with our additional investment in the early years, the vast majority of providers can expect to see increases in their hourly funding rates.\n\nWe do recognise that our proposals, as outlined in the consultation, are historic and ambitious. It is therefore really important that we get them right so that we can support early years providers to thrive and grow. We are keen to work with those in the early years sector and listen to their views and opinions, and we will be analysing the consultation responses very carefully.\n\nDepartment for Education","created_at":"2016-09-29T15:22:58.527Z","updated_at":"2016-09-29T15:22:58.527Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":106123,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/106123.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2015-2017","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2017-05-03T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Increase the hourly funding rate for 2-4 year old's in early years settings.","background":"The funded rate for 3 and 4 year old's has not increased since it was introduced 10 years ago, and the rate for 2 year old's has decreased.  Meanwhile, the cost of providing quality Early Years Education continues to rise on an annual basis through wages, rent, utilities and resources costs.","additional_details":"All 3 & 4 year old's in the UK are entitled to 15 hours free Early Years Education in an approved setting.  The setting receives funding from the Government, per child, per hour.  The hourly funding rate has never increased.  From April 2016, with the introduction of the National Living Wage, many settings are facing financial loss and ruin.  High quality childcare and education cannot continue to be provided without additional funding.  This is national problem affecting our children's future.","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":10056,"created_at":"2015-08-13T14:11:38.230Z","updated_at":"2017-09-09T06:05:33.412Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2015-08-17T13:37:06.441Z","closed_at":"2016-02-17T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2015-08-16T15:58:03.924Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2016-02-10T23:53:34.632Z","government_response_at":"2016-05-17T12:58:00.084Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2016-05-17","summary":"The Government is making an unprecedented investment in the provision of childcare, which includes a commitment to increase the average funding rate paid to the providers of early year entitlements. ","details":"The Government’s regard for the importance of providing free entitlement for childcare is underlined by the fact that more government investment and support than ever before is going towards high quality early education. \n\nIn keeping with this Government’s 2015 General Election commitment, funding has been increased by over £1 billon extra per year on free entitlements by 2019-20, including around £300 million for a significant uplift to the rate paid for 2, 3 and 4 year old entitlements. From April 2017, the national average funding rates will increase to £5.39 for two-year-olds and £4.88 for three- and four-year-olds. This shows once more the importance this Government attaches to funding high quality childcare.\n\nSince 2010, the Government has extended the universal three and four year old entitlement from 12 ½ hours to 15 hours of childcare, and has introduced an entitlement for disadvantaged 2 year olds as well.  And from 2017-18, the Government will further extend free entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds to 30 hours, doubling the number of funded hours for working parents. This is the first Government to promise such an extensive degree of childcare provision. And the quality of this provision also continues to rise; higher numbers of young children are achieving a “good level of development” than ever before, and 85% of childcare providers are rated as “good” or “outstanding” by Ofsted. \n\nWe wish to ensure that the hourly rates that childcare providers receive are sufficient to enable them to continue delivering good quality childcare, both keeping in mind current costs of provision and the implications of future cost pressures facing the sector. This is why the Government, is making a substantial increase in its investment in childcare, including its commitment to increasing the average rate of funding paid to providers. To provide a sound analytical underpinning for what this rate should be, the Government conducted a six-month comprehensive review of the cost of providing childcare; the review was published on 25th November 2015, and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-childcare-costs\n\nThe review was analytically-led, supported by expertise from across government and outside, and based on the best evidence available. It looked at both current costs of provision and the implications of future cost pressures facing the sector, such as the introduction of the National Living Wage. There was a high degree of engagement with the review from across the childcare market, with over 2000 responses received for its Call of Evidence, the majority of which came from providers. This was in turn supplemented by a series of roundtable events with providers, their representatives, and academics. This is the most comprehensive analysis of the childcare market ever and was described by the National Audit Office as “thorough and wide-ranging”. It has provided a clear, detailed and rich understanding of the early education and childcare market, and informed government increases to funding. \n\nWhile the level of funding provided to childcare by this Government is without historical parallel, the support that the Government is providing in not just limited to funding, it also takes the form of a package of reforms that will support successful delivery of the entitlements.\n\nWe are aware that the current funding system for three and four year olds creates unfair and unjustifiable differences between areas, and between types of providers. This is why we are going to introduce a national funding formula for early years. For early years this will help ensure that funding is transparently and fairly matched to need and fairly distributed between different types of providers and different parts of the country. We will be consulting on detailed proposals this year.\n\nThe review has shown that some business models do not make full use of the flexibility in the regulatory system- and that high quality care provision can be delivered by providers that do use this flexibility. The review has also shown that there is considerable scope for providers to become more efficient in their practice in order to manage costs within their available revenue. \n\nWe now intend to test capacity, flexibility and innovation in the provision of childcare in the Early Implementers Programme which shall start in a small number of areas in September 2016.\n\nThe investment announced will take overall government investment in childcare, including through Universal Credit and Tax-Free Childcare, to £6 billion by the end of this Parliament- the highest ever investment in childcare. The additional funding along with other measures is intended to continue this Government’s unprecedented record in the provision of high quality childcare.\n\nDepartment for Education","created_at":"2016-05-17T12:58:00.077Z","updated_at":"2016-05-17T12:58:00.077Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":183943,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/183943.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2015-2017","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2017-05-03T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Keep open the 'Dubs scheme' to resettle 3000 unaccompanied refugee children.","background":"The Home Office has announced that the 'Dubs scheme' to resettle unaccompanied refugee children in the UK will close after just 350 children are helped. At the time of its creation, campaigners called for it to aid 3000 children. The UK is turning its back on the most vulnerable people in the world.","additional_details":"The 'Dubs scheme' is named after Lord Dubs, who got an amendment to the Immigration Act passed last year. His amendment did not specify a number of children, but campaigners made clear that thousands of vulnerable refugee children were stranded and alone, and called on the UK government to help up to 3000 of them. Announcing that the scheme will only help 350 children - about one for every local authority - is a callous, inhumane act which leaves children at huge risk of deprivation and abuse.","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":10040,"created_at":"2017-02-08T18:21:56.390Z","updated_at":"2017-09-09T06:28:27.490Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2017-02-13T19:41:41.373Z","closed_at":"2017-05-02T23:01:00.000Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2017-02-08T19:08:30.620Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2017-04-14T21:00:59.573Z","government_response_at":"2017-08-09T12:00:13.439Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2017-08-09","summary":"This Government has and will continue to contribute significantly to hosting, supporting and protecting the most vulnerable children affected by the migration crisis. ","details":"The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it. In 2016, we transferred over 900 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children from Europe to the UK including more than 750 from France as part of the UK’s support for the Calais camp clearance. Over 200 children have already arrived in the UK under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016; this is almost as many unaccompanied children as the entire EU relocation scheme. We continue to work with our European partners to meet our obligations under the Dublin Regulation.\n\nIn total, in 2016, the UK granted asylum or another form of leave to over 8,000 children. \n\nBy the end of 2020, we will have resettled 20,000 Syrian nationals through our Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, one of the biggest resettlement schemes this country has ever undertaken, and a further 3,000 of the most vulnerable children and their families from the Middle East and North Africa region under the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme. A total of 7,307 people have been granted humanitarian protection under the Syrian VPRS since the scheme began.\n\nCrucially, our resettlement schemes help ensure that children do not become unaccompanied.  They allow children to be resettled with their family members, before they become unaccompanied, and before attempting perilous journeys to Europe.  \n\nThe Government has not ended its commitment to section 67. We announced, following consultation with local authorities, that we will transfer the specified number of 480 children to the UK under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016. It has never been the case, as has been suggested, that the Government would accept 3,000 children from Europe under section 67 of the Immigration Act or that this would be an ongoing obligation. Parliament voted against the proposal to accept 3,000 children. The legislation is clear that the Government has the obligation to specify the number of children to be relocated, after consultation with local authorities, and to relocate that number of children to the UK.\n\nThe Government remains fully committed to implementing the next phase of transfers under section 67. In March 2017 we published the criteria under which additional transfers of unaccompanied children from Europe will take place. The Government has invited referrals of children who meet the eligibility criteria. We are working very closely with the French, Greek and Italian authorities, the UNHCR and NGOs. Our secondees in Greece and Italy are working on transfers of unaccompanied children to the UK under both the Dublin Regulation and section 67.\n\nWe have launched the National Transfer Scheme to ensure a fairer distribution of the estimated 4,500 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in local authority care.  To support this, we have significantly increased funding for local authorities by 20 per cent and 28 per cent for under-16s and 16 and 17 year-olds respectively.\n\nThe Government’s long standing position is that it is better to provide support and resettle the most vulnerable refugees directly from the regions; this is how we stop traffickers and smugglers from exploiting vulnerable people and children affected by conflict.  The UK has been at the forefront of the response to the events in Syria and the region, pledging over £2.46 billion in aid; our largest ever humanitarian response to a single crisis. We have also committed over £100 million of humanitarian support to help alleviate the Mediterranean migration crisis in Europe and North Africa. At the June European Council, the Prime Minister announced a further £75 million fund focused on managing migration challenges on the Central Mediterranean route. \n\nThe UK helped to launch and mobilise international support for UNICEF’s No Lost Generation Initiative (NLGI), providing £431 million of funding. This provides protection, basic mental health support and education for children affected by the Syria crisis.\n\nOur aid spending is making a huge difference to the lives of children in the conflict region; for the same investment that it would take to support 3,000 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children under the age of 16 in the UK, we were able to help over 800,000 children in Syria and the surrounding region access healthcare, support, and education in 2016. Within Europe, the UK has also established a £10 million Refugee Children’s Fund to support the needs of vulnerable refugee and migrant children arriving in Europe. The UK has also allocated £8 million to a new Women and Girls Protection Fund for the Mediterranean region. This assistance protects girls and women on the move by providing safe shelter, information and financial assistance.\n\nThe Government has taken significant steps to improve an already comprehensive approach to supporting asylum-seeking and refugee children. This important issue was debated during a Backbench Business Committee debate on Thursday 23 February 2017 before Parliament was dissolved ahead of the General Election.  \n\nHome Office","created_at":"2017-08-09T12:00:13.436Z","updated_at":"2017-08-09T12:00:13.436Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":175433,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/175433.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2015-2017","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2017-05-03T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Stop business rate rises before they wreck independent high street retailers","background":"Independent retailers in many towns face rate increases which will force them out of business. National chains are pushing up property values, and independents are paying for this in their rates. Higher property values do not mean more turnover. The unintended consequence will be bland high streets.","additional_details":"The new business rates have an unsound basis. Rising property values are a cost to small retailers, not a source of profit. Increasing rates in line with property values is a double burden which will be the end for many much-loved retailers, and will turn interesting high streets into identical dull parades of chain coffee shops, charity outlets, and predictable national retailers. Local councils should not be wrecking their own high streets. Business rates need to be reconsidered.","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":10015,"created_at":"2016-12-13T11:39:25.494Z","updated_at":"2017-09-09T06:23:12.571Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2016-12-16T17:23:26.336Z","closed_at":"2017-05-02T23:01:00.000Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2016-12-13T20:49:49.684Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2017-05-02T22:08:39.880Z","government_response_at":"2017-08-09T12:10:18.178Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2017-08-09","summary":"The government values the contribution made by our diverse high streets and has put in place a package worth £8.9billion of support over the next five years for businesses with their business rates.","details":"Business rates provide a valuable contribution to the funding of local councils to enable them to deliver crucial services such as adult social care, children’s services, and local facilities.  The property valuations on which business rates are based are updated on a regular cycle by the Valuation Office Agency which carries out its work independently of government.  This updating means that bills are based on up to date information, and ensures that all businesses are dealt with on a consistent basis.\n\nThe majority of businesses either saw their bills stay the same or decrease as a result of the most recent revaluation which came into effect in April 2017. The government put in place a £3.6billion relief scheme to provide support to those businesses whose bills increased as a result of the revaluation.  In addition, at the Budget, the Chancellor announced a further £435million to support ratepayers.  As part of this, the Government also announced a £300 million discretionary relief fund over four years from 2017-18 so that local councils can provide additional support to businesses facing increases in their bills.   And a £1,000 reduction will be applied to all pubs with a rateable value below £100,000.\n\nThis is in addition to the support announced at Budget 2016.  Those changes are worth £8.9 billion over the next five years.  They include the doubling of Small Business Rate Relief thresholds from April 2017.  This means that 600,000 businesses – a third of all business properties - are no longer paying any business rates at all.  The Government has also increased the rateable value threshold for the standard business rate multiplier to £51,000 from April 2017, taking 275,000 smaller properties out of the higher bracket of business rates. In addition, from April 2020, the annual indexation of business rates will be changed from RPI to be consistent with the main measure of inflation, currently CPI.  This is a business rates cut every year for all businesses costing £1.1bn by 2022.\n\nThe Government has also set up the Future High Street Forum, it launched the “High Street Pledge” in July 2016 – signed by over 40 national retailers and other high street businesses committing their stores to supporting their local high streets – and helped  create over 360 town teams, giving over £18million to towns - funding successful initiatives such as “Love your Local Market”, and the Great British High Street Awards to celebrate the wonderful work that local communities are doing across the country in their high streets.\n\nDepartment for Communities and Local Government","created_at":"2017-08-09T12:10:18.176Z","updated_at":"2017-08-09T12:10:18.176Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":109473,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/109473.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2015-2017","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2017-05-03T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"SAVE OUR NHS STOP PRIVATISATION\r\nSAVE EALING HOSPITAL Publicly Funded & Provided","background":"Save Ealing Hospital Community Action Group will create community awareness against closure of vital public services. Look after our NHS \"Publicly Funded\" & \"Publicly Provided\" where everyone matters. Don't put profit before nation health stop \"practice-based commissioning\". ","additional_details":"The NHS is being privatised bit by bit, and patients are already suffering. Community in Ealing Southall is deeply angered by the decision to close the Maternity Wing, followed by Children’s Ward & A&E. Community has protested through all possible means. The protests and petitions have now culminated in a peaceful occupation at the Maternity Wing Area as well as other forms of protests. Protests are growing and the anger is reaching boiling point amongst thousands of members of the community.","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":4408,"created_at":"2015-09-27T11:18:42.951Z","updated_at":"2017-09-09T06:06:52.283Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2015-10-12T21:14:28.492Z","closed_at":"2016-04-12T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2015-09-27T21:10:21.872Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2016-01-23T21:02:26.641Z","government_response_at":"2016-02-22T10:28:41.784Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":"2016-04-07T12:37:06.395Z","debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":"2016-04-20T16:41:53.771Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2016-02-22","summary":"The changes that are taking place to NHS services in Ealing are designed to improve the quality of care, including maternity and paediatric care, for local people and are being led by clinicians.  ","details":"The changes that are taking place to NHS services across north-west London, including those at Ealing Hospital, are being implemented by the local NHS under the reconfiguration programme Shaping a Healthier Future (SaHF). Reconfiguration will only take place when it is clear that patients will benefit.\n\nThe local NHS, which has been the driver for change, is clear that the changes taking place under SaHF are about improving healthcare for the residents of north-west London.  The benefits include:  \n• improved consultant cover in A&Es; \n• better access to GPs; and \n• increased community services so more people can be treated closer to their homes.\n\nFollowing the closure of Ealing Hospital’s maternity birthing unit on 1 July 2015, care of all women booked at Ealing was safely transferred, with the majority of women being rebooked to their first preferred alternative hospital.  \n\nThe changes to maternity services will enable all hospital trusts in north-west London to provide significantly more consultant-led care than was previously the case, working closer towards the London quality standard for obstetric units to provide 24/7 consultant cover, 365 days a year. \n\nThese changes have enabled the NHS to improve maternity care for women across north-west London by improving the midwife to birth ratio and increasing continuity of midwife care. \n\nIt is proposed that inpatient paediatric services will move from Ealing Hospital on 30 June 2016 into five other hospital sites in north-west London, all of which will significantly expand their capacity by either increasing their number of inpatient beds or increasing the size of their paediatric A&E units.  There will also be more senior doctors on site for longer hours, seven days a week, and/or more paediatric nurses.\n\nHowever, nearly three quarters of existing children’s services will continue on the Ealing Hospital site and elsewhere in the borough. \n\nThese changes will ensure that children receive consistently high quality seven-day care, with more specialist senior doctors available to treat children for longer times.  This will improve the quality of clinical care and patient experience, and help get children back to health more quickly.\n\nEaling Hospital is being developed as a local hospital designed for the future health needs of the local population and will retain an A&E Department appropriate to a local hospital.\n\nThe Government is clear that the reconfiguration of front line health services is a matter for the local NHS.  Services should be tailored to meet the needs of the local population.\n\nDepartment of Health","created_at":"2016-02-22T10:28:41.778Z","updated_at":"2016-02-22T10:28:41.778Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":null,"transcript_url":"","video_url":"","debate_pack_url":null,"overview":"The Committee decided not to schedule a debate in Westminster Hall as the number of dates available for debates is limited, and there are other ways in which MPs could seek a debate on this local issue. \r\n \r\nThe Petitions Committee is not the only way of getting a House of Commons debate on the subject of a petition. MPs could still try to get time for a debate on this subject, if they wish to do so. There are many ways in which MPs can seek time for debates: individual MPs can apply for debates at the end of the day in the main Chamber, or for debates in Westminster Hall (the second debating Chamber of the House of Commons).   Backbenchers can ask the Backbench Business Committee for time for a debate, either in the main Chamber of the House of Commons or in Westminster Hall. The Government and the Opposition parties also have the power to schedule debates.  \r\n \r\nIf you want a debate on this subject, you could write to your local MP about it. You can use this page to find out how to contact your MP: http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/","public_engagement_url":null,"debate_summary_url":null},"departments":[],"topics":[]}}]}