Petitions with a Government response

1. Extend the VAT at 5% for hospitality until at least March 2022

   Government responded – 10 March 2021

   The Government has extended the reduced rate of VAT (5%) for tourism and hospitality to 30 September 2021. To help manage the transition back to 20%, a 12.5% rate will then apply until 31 March 2022.

   17,738 signatures

2. Do not permit any Council Tax increase of more than 5% without a referendum

   Government responded – 8 March 2023

   The Government takes annual decisions on council tax referendum thresholds. The Government set higher thresholds for three councils which are in financial difficulty and asked for this flexibility.

   17,690 signatures

3. Make the State Pension equal to Minimum Wage (40hr/wk 23+) to all from age 60

   Government responded – 10 October 2023

   The Government has no plans to increase the basic State Pension to £21,673.60 a year (£416.80 pw) and extend this to everyone aged 60 or over.

   17,683 signatures

4. Extend the Leasehold Reform Act to ground rent on existing residential leases

   Government responded – 29 July 2022

   The Government remains committed to creating a fair housing system that works for everyone. We are taking forward a wide-ranging programme of reform to end unfair practices in the leasehold market.

   17,645 signatures

5. Make driving safely around horses a mandatory part of the driving test

   Government responded – 20 May 2021

   Driving safely around horses is covered in the theory and hazard perception test. All candidates are assessed on awareness, anticipation and planning skills, which are needed if driving around horses.

   17,639 signatures

6. Legislate to BAN leasehold houses & set ground rents of new-build flats to ZERO

   Government responded – 28 October 2020

   The Government has confirmed it will ban the sale of new leasehold houses and restrict grounds rents to zero for future leases. We will bring forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.

   17,605 signatures

7. Exchange of driving licences issued in Republic of Moldova.

   Government responded – 20 April 2021

   An application from Moldova was rejected in 2015 after the Department assessed the practical test in Moldova did not align with GB requirements. We have not received another application since.

   17,523 signatures

8. Make the day of Diwali a public holiday

   Government responded – 8 December 2021

   The Government values the contribution the Indian diaspora makes to this country and the importance of Diwali. However, there are no plans to create a public holiday for Diwali.

   17,486 signatures

9. Introduce Voter ID in every UK constituency for all Local & General Elections

   Government responded – 30 July 2020

   The Government will implement voter ID at general and local (in England) elections, to increase public confidence and ensure our elections are secure.

   17,372 signatures

10. Introduce new restrictions on solar facilities to protect land and food security

    Government responded – 22 April 2024

    Government recognises that solar projects impact local areas. Our planning system considers these against the need to secure a clean energy future and protect our most productive agricultural land.

    17,343 signatures

11. Create new recycling and reuse requirements for local authorities

    Government responded – 31 December 2021

    Through the Environment Act 2021, the Government has strengthened legislative requirements to increase recycling rates to 65%, with less than 10% of municipal waste ending up in landfill, by 2035.

    17,287 signatures

12. Ban the Shooting of Critically Endangered Woodcocks.

    Government responded – 4 January 2022

    Recent population trends for woodcock are likely to be influenced by the extent and quality of habitat rather than shooting. There are no plans for a ban.

    17,272 signatures

13. Identify and sanction individuals from Pakistan involved in illegal activities

    Government responded – 12 April 2023

    The UK Government is committed to tackling corruption and money laundering. We will take action – including sanctions – against individuals involved in illicit financial activity.

    17,267 signatures

14. Extend the 12month 'giving notice' period for weddings postponed due to COVID-19

    Government responded – 24 July 2020

    We are delighted couples can now marry but understand frustration about expired notices. We are exploring opportunities for amending the law; in the meantime local authorities may help with fees.

    17,242 signatures

15. Extend furlough for aviation sector

    Government responded – 16 July 2021

    As restrictions are eased and international travel reopens, the current approach to CJRS strikes a balance between encouraging employees back to work, supporting the economy and protecting incomes.

    17,157 signatures

16. Include military personal with 5 years service in criteria for Platinum Jubilee

    Government responded – 4 August 2021

    The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal will be awarded to serving Armed Forces personnel with five years’ service on 6 February 2022. The medal will not be available to veterans who left before that date

    17,067 signatures

17. Require government ministers who break the law to be removed from post

    Government responded – 28 July 2021

    Ministers are under an overarching duty to comply with the law. It is for the courts to determine whether an act is unlawful and the appropriate remedy or consequences.

    17,031 signatures

18. Legal rights for ancient trees

    Government responded – 30 July 2020

    Ancient trees are a living link to our history so we already have extensive controls on their protection; additional legal rights for ancient trees are not necessary in addition to those.

    17,013 signatures

19. Ban wearing face coverings in public places.

    Government responded – 27 July 2020

    The Government does not support a general ban on the wearing of face coverings in public.

    16,983 signatures

20. Fund more specialist school places for children with special educational needs

    Government responded – 20 January 2023

    The Government is investing £2.6 billion between 2022 and 2025 to support local authorities to deliver new high needs places in mainstream and special schools, as well as other specialist settings.

    16,972 signatures

21. Order an official probe into potential Russian interference in the EU referendum

    Government responded – 23 September 2020

    We have seen no evidence of successful interference in the EU Referendum. We regularly assess threats posed by hostile state activity and have published our response to the Russia Report.

    16,969 signatures

22. End ‘ghost' flights: reform historic rights to landing slots.

    Government responded – 28 February 2022

    The Government continues to provide alleviation from normal airport slot rules to prevent airlines from operating environmentally damaging ‘ghost’ flights during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    16,967 signatures

23. Stop the importation of honey bees into GB from the EU via Northern Ireland

    Government responded – 29 April 2021

    We recognise the serious threat posed by small hive beetle. EU areas affected by this pest are not permitted to export to the UK. Strict controls apply to imports into the UK from other areas.

    16,932 signatures

24. Provide funding for surgical correction of Pectus Excavatum

    Government responded – 22 January 2021

    The current position of NHS England, with whom commissioning decisions sit, is not to provide funding for surgical correction of Pectus Excavatum, though individual funding requests can still be made.

    16,917 signatures

25. Require Universities to Train Staff on Neurodiversity

    Government responded – 10 July 2023

    Universities are autonomous institutions, responsible for their own decisions on staff training. They should provide a safe and inclusive environment, including for neurodivergent students.

    16,803 signatures

26. Make self-employed people eligible for statutory adoption pay

    Government responded – 2 February 2022

    The Government has no plans to extend adoption pay to self-employed adopters. Local Authorities can make discretionary payments to self-employed adopters who do not qualify for adoption pay.

    16,794 signatures

27. Ban anonymous accounts on social media

    Government responded – 10 August 2020

    Being anonymous online does not give anyone the right to abuse others. The Government is introducing world-leading legislation to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online.

    16,787 signatures

28. Make it an offence to hit a cat and drive off

    Government responded – 7 September 2021

    The Government has no plans to make it an offence to drive off after hitting a cat. A focus for this Government is to make roads safer for all users, which will in turn reduce the risk to all animals.

    16,746 signatures

29. Create an independent investigatory commission to help protect ethnic minorities

    Government responded – 30 July 2020

    The Prime Minister has announced a new Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities that will seek to understand what disparities exist and why, and present recommendations based on robust evidence.

    16,690 signatures

30. Make it mandatory to wear a face mask in public during Covid-19 Pandemic

    Government responded – 8 September 2020

    The Government has announced new rules on face coverings. Visitors to shops and supermarkets, as well as passengers on public transport and visitors to hospitals, will need to wear face coverings.

    16,688 signatures

31. Fast-track access to benefits for terminally ill as soon as diagnosed

    Government responded – 25 July 2022

    The 12-month eligibility criteria improves access to benefits for those nearing the end of life and aligns with the NHS definition. All eligible benefit claims are paid as fast as possible.

    16,650 signatures

32. Support the pension triple lock

    Government responded – 8 September 2021

    The Government is committed to ensuring that older people are able to live with the dignity and respect they deserve. Our approach is fair for both pensioners and younger taxpayers.

    16,603 signatures

33. Start school at 10am to help teenagers with tiredness

    Government responded – 22 September 2022

    All schools currently have the autonomy and the flexibility to decide when their school day should start and finish and the Government has no plans to change this.

    16,588 signatures

34. Full review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application process

    Government responded – 1 November 2022

    While Government has no plans to review PIP, following the Shaping Future Support Green Paper we will publish a White Paper on better meeting needs of disabled people and those with health conditions.

    16,561 signatures

35. Fund free drink spiking test kits for all bars

    Government responded – 22 November 2021

    The Government has no plans to introduce free drink testing kits. Premises can use privately procured kits and the law allows local authorities to set conditions on night-time venues to reduce crime.

    16,535 signatures

36. Hold a referendum on ending devolution in Scotland

    Government responded – 18 July 2023

    The UK Government is committed to devolution and believes the settlement strikes the right balance. We disagree with the petition’s suggestion there should be a referendum on ending devolution.

    16,529 signatures

37. Allow dancing at weddings before the 21st June and if lockdown gets extended

    Government responded – 5 July 2021

    Dancefloors and other spaces for dancing must remain closed due to the significant risk of transmission, except in the case of the couple’s first dance

    16,523 signatures

38. Establish free movement & trade agreements with Canada, Australia & New Zealand

    Government responded – 21 December 2020

    The UK is ending free movement for EU citizens (at 11pm 31 December 2020). The government has no plans to seek equivalent arrangements with CANZUK.

    16,505 signatures

39. Allow wild camping in England

    Government responded – 6 April 2021

    Wild camping requires permission from the landowner. There are no plans currently to change this legislation.

    16,411 signatures

40. Stop Grooming Gang members accessing public funds to fight their convictions

    Government responded – 23 November 2021

    Anyone charged, convicted and sentenced should have access to legal aid for an appeal, including so-called “grooming gang” members.

    16,383 signatures

41. Apply to join the European Union Single Market

    Government responded – 30 April 2021

    From 31 December 2020, the UK is outside the EU customs union and single market fulfilling the Government’s manifesto commitment to get Brexit done and take back control of our money, borders and laws

    16,354 signatures

42. Reduce or scrap the immigration health surcharge for overseas NHS Staff.

    Government responded – 29 May 2020

    The Prime Minister has asked the Home Secretary and the Department of Health and Social Care to work together to exempt NHS and care staff from the immigration health surcharge.

    16,347 signatures

43. Make parking at work permanently free for all NHS workers

    Government responded – 27 April 2022

    Free hospital parking for NHS staff was a time-limited measure during the pandemic. It is right to end this now as we learn to live with the virus. Free parking for staff working overnight remains.

    16,337 signatures

44. Give secondary school students a right pray in school

    Government responded – 20 February 2023

    Schools are required to take steps to consider the needs of people who share protected characteristics as per the public sector equalities duty and are encouraged to be flexible when doing so.

    16,309 signatures

45. Provide an energy grant to people with a disability or serious medical condition

    Government responded – 14 June 2022

    The Government will provide approximately six million people across the UK, who receive certain disability benefits, with a one-off payment of £150 in September 2022.

    16,303 signatures

46. To pay every NHS and Social Care Worker in England a £500 "Thank You" Bonus

    Government responded – 19 April 2021

    We are immensely grateful to our health and social care workforce. We are not, currently, planning to pay £500 bonuses but are exploring ways to improve recognition of health and social care staff.

    16,278 signatures

47. Abolish time limit for requesting sentences for child murder be reviewed

    Government responded – 18 January 2022

    The government has no plans to abolish the time limit for referrals made under the unduly lenient sentence scheme which provides finality. We keep the scheme under review, including the 28 day limit.

    16,233 signatures

48. Delay removal of red diesel entitlement from the construction industry

    Government responded – 30 March 2022

    The Government has no plans to delay the removal of the entitlement to use red diesel from the construction industry from April 2022.

    16,231 signatures

49. Set a Minimum Pension Guarantee (MPG) of at least £200 pw for state pensioners

    Government responded – 22 August 2022

    The Government has no plans to introduce a new £200 Minimum Pension Guarantee. The Government is committed to a decent State Pension as the foundation of support for people in retirement.

    16,131 signatures

50. Require train operators maintain ticket offices at railway stations

    Government responded – 19 December 2022

    We want train operators to improve the station experience by providing more active support. To propose ticket office changes operators must follow the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement process.

    16,128 signatures

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