Ofsted has today published a letter summarising the findings of the recent monitoring visit to Surrey Children's services. This is the 8th monitoring visit since the County Council was inspected in 2014 and found to be inadequate in the Ofsted report published in 2015. In the latest monitoring visit, Ofsted inspectors noted recent improvements. However some changes have taken too long to achieve and children continue to receive an inconsistent response to their needs and for some, potential risks are not explored quickly enough.

As Business Secretary I gave binding votes on executive pay policy to shareholders of publicly limited companies, requiring the approval of 50% of shareholders, and allowing a transparent single number for pay.

There was little enthusiasm from the Conservatives for this, but it has had a demonstrable effect on reducing executive pay.

Eid al-Adha presents us with an opportunity to reflect upon our duty and responsibility to one another, through acts of generosity and compassion. These values are at the core of Islam's message and are principles which resonate and align with the Liberal Democrat principles of equality and unity.

I am in awe of the ongoing contributions of Muslims to British society, in everything from business to education, to charity, which not only bring communities together, but also showcase the very best of both British and Muslim values.
These acts of generosity stand in marked contrast to the rising tide of hate crime and Islamophobia. Together, we must take every possible opportunity to defiantly condemn all acts of hate and intolerance.
Let us all continue to champion a more open, tolerant and united Britain.
Wishing you and loved ones a happy and peaceful Eid. Eid Mubarak!

Liberal Democrat county councillors in Surrey have criticised the ruling Conservative administration for recruiting a £55,000 "Head of Strategy" post when at the same time planning staff redundancies and cutting services by millions of pounds.

The advert, which has been posted extensively online and in the national press, seeks to recruit a "highly politically astute" individual who will be a "skilful networker" and "support the leadership" of the County Council. The salary offered is between £55484 to £66644 for a working week of 36 hours, with a laptop and mobile supplied.

County Councillor Will Forster provides and update on Community Recycling Centres.

Over two thousand residents have signed a Lib Dem petition against Surrey County Council's proposals to close four popular and well-used Community Recycling Centres in Bagshot, Cranleigh, Dorking and Warlingham. The County Council is also planning to reduce the opening hours of all the remaining tips, as well as scrapping the daily free waste allowance in order to save £2 million from its budget.

County Councillor Will Forster provides an update on calls a review of Fire Safety.

The Lib Dems called for a thorough review of fire safety in Surrey following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in North Kensington. The Surrey Fire and Rescue Service attended the incident to provide assistance to the London Fire Brigade, due to the sheer scale of the disaster.

Big Ben may have fallen silent but the clock on the Brexit talks is still ticking - it's time for the government to get real instead of producing fantasy wishlists.

David Davis is sowing the seeds of more chaos with these short-sighted and short-termist plans.

British businesses are being hung out to dry, with no long-term certainty they'll be able to carry on selling goods freely to the EU. Meanwhile the trade in services that provides the bedrock of the UK economy is being overlooked.

The Conservatives are refusing to admit publicly that Europe will still require Britain to abide by their rules in nearly 50% of our trade, hard Brexit or not.

Sir Paul Jenkins has called Theresa May's Brexit strategy 'foolish' for hoping to distance the UK from the European Court of Justice whilst maintaining the benefits of the single market.

The Government's sale of the Green Investment Bank (GIB), which was completed today, is environmentally irresponsible.

The Government confirmed today Macquarie Group Limited has now completed its purchase of the GIB for £2.3bn, which will now be known as the Green Investment Group (GIG).

I launched the Bank in 2012, during my time as Business Secretary. Its environmental mission is now in danger of disappearing, I am calling for Parliament to ensure commitments to protect green investment in the UK are kept.

Ministers have privately admitted that the government may not start negotiating Britain's future trade relationship with the EU until the end of the year, it emerged today.

This comes despite David Davis insisting back in May that talks on a future trade agreement would take place in parallel with negotiation over the UK's withdrawal from the EU.