Euro MP Sharon Bowles, who chairs the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, has renewed calls for better corporate transparency in the developing world following revelations that approximately £690 million paid to the Nigerian government by subsidiaries of Shell and ENI ended up in the hands of former Nigerian oil minister and convicted money launderer, Dan Etete.

Families still battling to keep down the cost of energy bills despite a drop in the number of homes in fuel poverty, Catherine Bearder MEP has said.

The number of households in fuel poverty fell from 5.5m households in 2009 to 4.75m in 2010, according to the 2012 Annual Report on Fuel Poverty Statistics.

£10m to boost literacy - Clegg

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced on Monday that there will be up to £10m additional support for Pupil Premium children who leave primary school without Level 4 literacy - the expected level.

In a keynote speech to teachers and school leaders, he said that the Education Endowment Foundation will be awarding the money to pilot projects to help disadvantaged pupils make the transition from primary to secondary school. The money will be targeted at struggling Year 7s from deprived homes.

"How can a child start secondary school unable to read with confidence?" declared Nick. "That is a basic building block of a good education and no child should begin the race so far behind the starting line. We need to do everything we can to help these children through this transition to get them up to speed.
"That is a responsibility the government takes extremely seriously. And I can confirm that the Education Endowment Foundation will shortly be inviting groups of local schools, in the areas that suffer most with this problem, to bid for extra funds for struggling Year 7s from deprived homes to help them get their reading and writing up to scratch. Extra 'catch up cash', if you like.
"We envisage that schools will want to use it for small catch up classes, or one-to-one tuition, or vouchers for literacy tuition that parents can spend. We will run a proper evaluation, sharing what works with all schools not just those areas taking part in these pilots. It's likely this kind of targeted support is the best way to crack this problem - next year we'll know.
"Of course, we hope as few pupils as possible need it, thanks to the Pupil Premium. And I know primary and secondary schools up and down the country are determined to make this work.
"Some are using the money for breakfast clubs; homework clubs; or to provide one-to-one-tuition. Some are funding counselling services, so troubled kids are in the right place, emotionally, to learn. Some are using it for educational visits to places like museums: the sort of experiences middle class children take for granted but poorer child might rarely enjoy."

Nick also announced that he wants to "strike a deal between the Coalition government and our schools and teachers. Teachers who help these children unlock the doors that otherwise hold them back ... they are the key to an open and fair society ... the key to the opportunity Britain I am determined we build."

The best teachers will be offered incentives to work in schools that have large numbers of disadvantaged pupils. The government will ask the School Teachers Review Body to look at giving other schools the same flexibility Academies currently have to use pay to hold on to the best teachers.

Also, from next year, there will be Pupil Premium Awards for the 50 schools that do the best to boost the performance of their poorest pupils and narrow the gap - with cash prizes of up to £10,000 for the best of the best.

A pledge from all EU member states to enforce a ban on battery hens has been welcomed by South East MEP Catherine Bearder.

Cramped cages were supposed to be banned from January, but the European Commission looked set to let some member states off the hook.

And UK egg producers who had spent around £400m on larger bird cages were angered some EU countries were set to flout the ban.

Kent Poilce have received a report that a security company called R&B security have been calling residents offering to install free alarm systems. The company were dissolved in January this year.
However it appears that some residents are being called by this and other companies, offering similar things.

Please click here to view a leaflet produced by Sevenoaks District Council regarding the impact to some homes and businesses linked to the Paralympic Games road cycling event.

Helping someone is not only a nice feeling, it is also good for your mental health.

People are invited to carry out an act of kindness every day next week to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, from Monday 21 to Sunday 27 May.

It could be as simple as making someone a cup of tea; paying a compliment or offering to help someone with a chore if you know they are struggling at home or work; or smiling at someone or saying thank you. If you can, you could do more - such as volunteering for a charity or organisation.

The loss of biodiversity is happening right under our noses… and too many people choose not to listen, said Catherine Bearder MEP.

It came as Catherine joined the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals, which is the hub for animal welfare in the European Parliament.

The group has successfully lobbied for an EU ban on the import of seal products and spearheaded a call to outlaw cloning of animals in the food chain.

Sarah Teather announced today that the Coalition Government are extending the system of support for young people with special educational needs up to the age of 25, so that young people will get the support they need wherever they are taught. You can find more info in the next steps document, which you can find here.

Commenting, Stephen Williams said:

"This is a very popular idea which would give the public something back for bailing out the banks.

"I welcome the Treasury Select Committee's review into what to do with the Government's holding in RBS and Lloyds and hope that it furthers the case for giving the public their share."