The Liberal Democrats are at the forefront of cross party calls for urgent additional funding for local authorities going "above and beyond" in their response to the COVID-19 crisis.

In a letter to the Chancellor and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the cross party group of more than 20 MPs highlight the pressures cash-strapped councils are under, with a funding shortfall of £5 billion at a time when they are being asked to rapidly scale up support for the most vulnerable.

Europe Day is a reminder of the value of international cooperation.

Only by working internationally can we effectively combat international challenges.

It is also an opportunity to recognise the contributions EU citizens living in the UK make to our society. These friends, colleagues, neighbours, and family members enrich our lives every day.

On this 75^th anniversary of VE Day we remember all those who put their lives at risk to defend our freedoms and defeat fascism.

Paying tribute to the sacrifices made during the Second World War, Liberal Democrat Acting Leader Ed Davey said:

"Today we honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as all today's armed forces who continue to sacrifice so much to keep us all safe. We cannot thank them enough for what they are doing at home and around the world today, defending freedom.

"We must never grow complacent or be fooled into thinking that war is impossible.

Responding to the announcement from the Secretary of State for Health that bereaved families of NHS staff will receive compensation, Layla Moran MP, who first called for the measure last month, said:

"This is a win for my cross-party campaign to introduce a Coronavirus Compensation Scheme, backed by The Express and The Times newspapers.

Below is an update from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency regarding travel to France:

"We are contacting you to update you on entry requirements for those driving to France, following further changes from the French authorities in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Certificate for International Transport Workers

The Government announced a new loan scheme for small businesses.

Aimed at the UK's smallest firms, the scheme will offer loans of between £2,000 and £50,000.

• Businesses can borrow up to the value of 25% of their turnover up to a maximum of £50,000.

• The Government will provide lenders with a 100% guarantee for the loan and pay any fees and interest for the first 12 months.

Below is the latest update email regarding the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme from HMRC:

"Wages for furloughed employees are now being paid through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, just six working days after claims opened.

Payments for claims made on Monday 20 April will be in employers' bank accounts by tomorrow (28‌‌ April).

The following is an excerpt from an email from the Department of Education to teachers. The sections quoted may be useful to parents:

Support for remote education

This week has seen the launch of several online resources with DfE backing. We have published a set of high-quality resources on GOV.UK, and many suppliers are making their own resources, both online and hard-copy, available to schools for free, including: