What ideas and suggestions would you like us to pass on to the new government?

Take care of the carers.

6 weeks respite which is not means tested. I am a carer of a parent with dementia (living with me), I have children and a Dh and have received a letter cancelling all respite unless means tested.

1. Do less.
2. Cut back the frontiers of the state
3. Simplify
4. Lower and simplify taxes
5. Merge tax and NI
6. Seek to achieve a flat tax
7. Remove most tax allowanes and complications - don't let the fiscal tail wag the dog - let people take decisions not based on tax consequences
8. Freeze benefits, allowance and the like for the 5 years of the parliament
9. Give all parents a voucher to spend at schools of their choice and have an aim of transferring all schools into the private sector

And many others.

some great suggestions here

"Am sick and tired of being told I can't put a cholate biscuit in the children's lunch by the same people who are feeding all the other children nutrasweet EVERY DAY."

excellent point. If the chocolate biscuit had nutrasweet in it, then the same people would encourage the eating of more biscuits.

Just heard on Radio 4 that the plan is to allow new businesses outside of the South East & London a big N I employer break. I'm really glad for those outside of the South East but that won't help me or my DH's business stay afloat. I work for the public sector and it is completely possible my job will go in the cuts. As my income has helped keep him going through and I quote "the most difficult trading time I've ever known" if my job goes and things don't improve quickly his best option - and the irony is not lost on me - would be to move into teaching (as he has very specialist skills). So I'm still saying Local authorities need to be nurturing their small businesses and doing everything possible they can to help them - even in the South East. Many local Gov employees seem to get a real thrill from hurting small businesses and business people because they don't have a law degree or the back up of big businesses.

"For example should Mumsnet be promoted by Midwives and Health Visitors to parents when they leave hospital or have their final visit?"

Why on earth should the tax payer fund free advertising for a privately owned website?

-Decided if tax/benefits are supposed to be an individual thing or a household thing and make sure all the different systems use the same definition of 'household'.

• More equality between standards for nurseries/ pre-schools and schools, eg why does Ofsted not have to give any warning when visiting nursery schools but does when visiting schools?; food standards, etc.

• Create more jobs for parents of school children, ie. 10am-2pm weekdays.

• Remove religious worship/ instruction from state schools (but not RE as long as it is neutral).

Put a warning label on every product that contains nutrasweet, and tax children's food/medicine which contains nutrasweet (or other artificial sweetners) to discourage manufactures from loading our children up with chemicals because they are cheaper than sugar.

(although diabetics should not have to pay the tax on nutrasweet)

Oh, and for goodness sake, ban nutrasweet in school dinners! (except for diabetic children) Am sickk and tired of being told I can't put a cholate biscuit in the children's lunch by the same people who are feeding all the other children nutrasweet EVERY DAY.

Please please please, start a strong national campaign on childhood health.
This would include:

• Stop supermarkets from having so much rubbish available to feed kids, the amount of ready made meals, sweets and stuff filled with colourants is NOT HEALTHY. Unfortunately telling parents out there that is not healthy does not help, some parents are not strong enough to avoid these temptations.

• Stop television from showing so many aggresive and sexually explicit scenes on TV. This includes the stupid british soap operas that do nothing but make anger, pints and sex look fun.

• Please allow mums that want to work but also want to spend time with their kids have more flexibility at work.

• Make every school have proper sports facilities, and every child should have proper excercise (except ofcourse those unable to due to medcial issues). I am not talking about having a little run around the pe hall, but to join in a sport and practice is 3 times a week, there are so many sports available.

• Please close all these coffee shops. Too much cake and coffee is not helping, people are becoming fatter and fatter, no it's not healthy.

• If we help the kids of today be healthier, happier and have a more positive self image we will have a better tomorrow, please invest in kids now.

More Support for mother's and their Children!

I do not think it would be a good idea to link up with the Government, as then you would need to to promote their policies. It is so important for mothers to be told how it is not just how the government think you should be bringing you your baby. The policies change on almost a weekly basis. Health Visitor oppinions vary so much. Some seem to pass judgement on the mothers who care and have concerns about the up bring of their babies, but parents who do not care or even neglect their children seem to fall by the way side.

There is a shortage of Health Care professionals to help new mothers, but is this only likely to get worse with funding shortages and while I am on my soap box, too much is put on the breast feeding side of things to make mothers who have been unable to breast feed for whatever reason feel like a failure.

I don't want to set up my own school thank you very much - I want the government/educationalists to do so.

Leave public sector pensions alone. You simply won't get quality staff staying or joining professions like mine (psychiatry)because the renumeration is rubbish and there has to be some incentive other than a much exploited desire to help others.

Cut back on the legislation which surrounds everything, requires people to administer it, wastes time filling it in, posting, processing, confirming, reconfirming, photocopying and responding and still manages to get everything wrong.

Keep the Trident subs going and fill them up with fakes. Trust me, no-one will know the difference.

1. culture of "passing"everyone at everything ie fail is a dirty word is couterproductive and ruins confidence rather than building it. PC to go - honesty to be in.

1. whilst everyone should reach a minimum standard at least, the more able kids need higher and harder horizons to strive for.

Then we can compete with the world.
That's all!

I would like you to pass on that we see through their cynical attempts to focus blame on the public sector (of all things) and destroy our working conditions. I am disgusted by it.

I would also like them to engage in evidence based policies which actually deliver what is needed, rather than shallow rhetoric and idealogical changes which fail us.

I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I'd ask why the complete collapse of the private sector in 2008 is a reason for destroying public services. I thought the private sector was more efficient and better, yet it nearly crippled society...

Get rid of childcare vouchers and cap/fund the cost of childcare! That will save a who load of admin and mean that people are better off as the whole personal tax thing doesn't come into it.

CTC is farcical to claim so we don't bother -underpaid, overpaid, backdated so never handed out when you actually do need it - nightmare.

However, I do really prize Childcare Vouchers (Conservatives pro them, LibDems anti them, which is why they didn't get my vote - hollow laugh). They make it possible for me as a key worker to work (have high commuting costs as many key workers do, not able afford to live near place of work) - and think they should be made more available, i.e. self-employed parents etc. It is ridiculous that given the very high cost of childcare that we might be better off not working.

Because of the stupid rule abotu not being able t claim back childcare as a work expense, I have to have my Chauffer drive my kids round the block for 8 hours a day.

I'd say this was barbaric, even though we installed educational DVDs!

Winter fuel allowance.

I know a couple who are both working as solicitors and own three houses who receive it. If we're means testing benefits then don't forget that one.

oh and please think twice before cutting all free sports/outdoor play initiatives. the benefits will be apparent in years to come and will be worth the sacrifice now.

give more money to schools, let the heads organise the teaching, stop butting in with curriculum and forget this daft free school thing.

as if