Scientists from across the European Union are calling Oxfordshire home thanks to the pull of Diamond Light Source.

The UK's national synchrotron science facility based at Harwell employs scientists from around the world, including workers from more than half the EU member states.

Catherine Bearder, a Lib Dem MEP from the South East, visited on Tuesday to learn about the research at the site.

A delegation of the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, chaired by UK Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles, has been meeting with finance ministers, supervisory authorities, stock exchange officials, and monetary authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore to discuss the impact of the Eurozone crisis on Asian markets, as well as developments concerning EU financial services legislation in line with the G20 agenda, such as capital requirements for banks (Basel III) and over-the-counter derivatives.

Sharon Bowles MEP, who represents South East England in the European Parliament, is supporting Don't Cut Us Out, a campaign in West Sussex fighting to protect vulnerable adults from council cuts.

The campaign was started after Conservative-led West Sussex County Council decided to cut its adult services budget, leaving many elderly people and those with learning disabilities without vital support.

A plan to increase allowances and travel expenses for Members of the European Parliament (MEP) was today put on hold.

Catherine Bearder called for a freeze on allowances, as well as a curb on money for travel until the next European election in 2014.

And a proposal for an inflation-linked rise in administrative costs as part of the 2013 EU budget guidelines was today blocked at Strasbourg.

Sharon Bowles MEP, who chairs the European Parliament's powerful Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, has today called on the European Commission to clarify its position on Common Stability Bonds, known commonly as 'Eurobonds'.

Ms Bowles, who was recently re-elected to chair the Committee for the remainder of the parliamentary session, also took the opportunity to promote Eurobills - a shorter-term bond currently being discussed in Brussels.

Youngsters enjoying a weeks activities sponsored by Kent Fund for Children.

"It was absolutely brilliant to see the children develop in confidence and maturity by taking part in these activities."

Over the last few years, through the Lib Dems annual Christmas dress-down day, Kent County Council staff and Councillors have raised over £7,000 for the Fund which is dedicated to 'making young people's dreams come true' - supporting children and young people in Kent who have not had the same opportunities that most children enjoy, because of personal or social circumstances.

Liberal Democrats at County Hall have renewed their calls for an inquiry into the failure of services to children in care in Kent. Trudy Dean (Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition) revealed for the first time that data about vacancy levels in Kent were known to be at high risk well before an unannounced inspection by OFSTED resulted in a critical report.

In response to a question raised by Lib Dem County Councillor Ian Chittenden, at the County Council meeting on Thursday 9th February, the Conservative Cabinet Member confirmed that the decision on the future of Youth Services will be decided by newly formed 'Locality Boards' (where they exist). Locality boards are informal bodies, with no requirement to allow the public to attend the meetings to listen to or join in the debates about changes to their local youth services.

Throughout February Citizens Advice is trying to find out how people access cash from bank, building society and post office card accounts and how they would be affected if their bank stopped them from using other cash machines.

You can take part in this survey on line at www.citizensadvice.org.uk or contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau to see if they are taking part and request a paper copy. you can find Kent CAB office addresses and contact details at http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice.htm?txt_search=kent&x=0&y=0

At the County Council meeting on Thursday 9^th of February, Martin Vye, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Kent County Council, asked the Conservative administration to prepare plans for much greater involvement of local people in planning the services KCC provides for them.

Canterbury County Councillor Martin Vye said: