High Peak Liberal Democrats

The Supreme Court is to hear a case challenging the way councils in England can consider their finances when assessing people for social care. A severely disabled man - known as KM - and four charities will say care should be the same wherever a person lives.

Cambridgeshire County Council awarded KM about £85,000 a year, for care that a social worker estimated at £157,000. If the appeal is successful, councils will have to reconsider how they assess the needs of disabled people. Following a ruling in 1997 by the House of Lords, councils in England can currently consider their resources when assessing the needs of disabled adults.

For several years cochlear implants have offered some deaf people the chance to have a "sensation of sound". So why would some deaf teenagers choose not to have the implant even if they had the option? The issue of cochlear implants and efforts to "cure" deafness is a very sensitive subject among the 19,600 deaf teenagers in the UK. Indeed, many young deaf people are proud of deaf culture.

The risk of birth defects increases four-fold if the pregnant mother has diabetes, researchers say. The Newcastle University study, published in the journal Diabetologia, analysed data from more than 400,000 pregnancies in North East England. The risk of defects such as congenital heart disease and spina bifida were increased.

South West Liberal Democrat MEP and President of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform party Sir Graham Watson today introduced David Chalmers, who sits on the Board of the Kaleidoscope Trust, to European Commissioner for development Andris Piebalgs regarding EU funding for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex issues in the developing world.

This February marks the final United Nations (UN) Preparatory Committee session before the deciding negotiations in July 2012 for a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). As this critical moment approaches, we need to call on our Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to support the strongest possible Treaty.

Wyatt calls on Council to bid for Portas funding for Coalville Town High Street

The government is looking for 12 run down High Streets in England to share £1m as part of plans proposed by TV retail guru Mary Portas.

Areas will bid for support from a dedicated team and Ms Portas herself. The scheme was described as a "golden ticket" for town centres by local government minister, Grant Shapps.

Following the promotion of Norman Lamb MP to be Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills East Midlands Liberal Democrats will have to wait until next week when Norman has had a chance to read his Ministerial Diary before we can confirm our Keynote Speaker for our Spring Conference in Leicester on Saturday 18th February. We are, or maybe were, looking forward to hearing about work in Government from the centre as Norman was until today (Friday) Assistant Whip & Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP.

Ed Davey attended Nottingham High School (1974-84) where he was head boy in 1984. He took first class honours in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Jesus College, Oxford (1985-1988) where he was elected President of the College's Junior Common Room and was active in an environmental campaigning group.