Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss today (3 February 2017) paid tribute to the vital work of staff across our justice system as she met with teams at HMP Bristol and the Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre to hear about their experiences.

The visit comes after the Justice Secretary announced a major package of reforms to improve safety in prisons – including an additional £100 million to bolster frontline staff by 2,500 with almost £460,000 allocated to HMP Bristol. This is in addition to our £1 billion investment to improve access to justice and the experience for all court users, in particular vulnerable victims, witnesses and children.

HMP Bristol is already making improvements to safety and security thanks to over £400,000 funding for the prison. This includes extra money to roll out CCTV across the prison in order to deter violence, as well as introducing a number of interventions for emotional support such as anger management.

Today the Secretary of State sat down with the Governor and prison officers at HMP Bristol to hear first-hand the challenges they face and how the reforms and increased investment is helping.

Speaking after the visit, Elizabeth Truss said:

Our prisons need to be places of safety and reform and our dedicated frontline staff are vital to achieving this ambition.

The impressive work being done day in day out by the HMP Bristol officers I met today is too often unnoticed, but it is crucial to reducing reoffending and improving public safety. I will continue to listen to them and all prison staff as we deliver on our important reforms.

Later at Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre Ms Truss met with senior judges and frontline staff to see some of the impressive work being delivered to digitise our courts and speed up the delivery of justice. This includes increasing the use of video links – cutting the need for time-pressed people to travel back and forth to court buildings – and developing plans for simple, online systems so civil disputes can be resolved more quickly.

The visit also follows urgent steps taken by Ministers to ban perpetrators of domestic abuse from cross-examining their victims within the family court system.

Elizabeth Truss said:

We have a world leading legal system but I am committed to modernising our courts to make the experience more straightforward for all users.

It is vital that justice is efficient and simple, and the impressive work being done by the dedicated court staff I met today shows how we can make the best use of technology and simplify processes to improve access to justice and the experience for all court users.

The following summary of planned new and ongoing road improvements over the coming week is correct as of 3 February 2017 but could be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. All our improvement work is carried out with the aim of causing as little disruption as possible.

A38 – Alrewas to Cappers Lane and associated slip roads: carriageway repairs

Southbound carriageway and associated slip road closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 8 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A38M – M6 links from out of city A38M: carriageway repairs

Links from out of city A38M will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 9 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A38M – M6 links to intercity A38M: maintenance scheme

Links to intercity A38M will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 11 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A449 – Gailey roundabout to Brewood Road: carriageway repairs

Southbound carriageway will be closed for 24 hours from 8pm 10 February until 6am 13 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A449 – Gailey roundabout to Brewood Road: carriageway repairs

Northbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A456 – M5 junction 3 gyratory: carriageway repairs

The Gyratory will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A46 –A46/A452 slip road: carriageway works

Eastbound entry slip road will be closed overnight between 9.30pm and 6am from 7 February until 9 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A46 Sedgeberrow to Evesham: drainage works

Carriageway will be closed in both directions overnight between 9pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A46 – Oversley to Shottery: carriageway repairs

Carriageway will be closed in both directions overnight between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A5 – Gledrid roundabout and all approaches: widening scheme

Roundabout and associated approaches will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A5 – Wall Island to Muckley Corner: carriageway resurfacing

Westbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 7pm and 6.30am from 8 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A5 – Chase Road to Rising Sun island: carriageway resurfacing

Westbound Carriageway including a partial closure of the Rising Sun island will be closed overnight for one night from 9pm 7 February until 6am the following morning (8 February). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A5 – Holy Lane to Spon Lane Including the turning to Whittington: carriageway repairs

Carriageway will be closed in both directions overnight for one night from 9pm 6 February until 6am the following morning (7 February). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A483 – Welsh border to A5 Mile End: electrical works

Carriageway will be closed in both directions overnight between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 11 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A50 – Meir Tunnel to Stanley Matthews Way: carriageway repairs

Westbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A50 – Heron Cross to Meir Tunnel: carriageway repairs

Eastbound carriageway including associated slip roads will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A50 – Meir Tunnel to Alhambra Interchange: carriageway repairs

Westbound carriageway including associated slip roads will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A50 – Meir Interchange exit slip road to Catchems Corner: carriageway repairs

Eastbound Carriageway including associated slip roads will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A50 – Heron Cross exit slip road to Foley Road: carriageway repairs

Eastbound carriageway including associated slip roads will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A50 – Foley Road exit slip road to Trentham Road exit slip road to Foley Road: carriageway repairs

Eastbound carriageway including associated slip roads will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 6th February until 12th February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A50 – Blythe Bridge entry slip road to Meir Tunnel: carriageway repairs

Westbound carriageway including associated slip roads will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A50 – Heron Cross to Stanley Matthews including Blurton entry slip road: carriageway repairs

The Westbound carriageway including the associated slip Roads will be closed for 24 hours from 6am 6th February until 8pm 12th February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A50 – Blurton Road entry slip road: carriageway repairs

Westbound entry slip road will be closed for 24 hours from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A500 – Talke junction gyratory: carriageway repairs

Eastside of the gyratory will be closed for 24 hours from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A5127 – Gravelly Hill merge onto A38M: carriageway repairs

Carriageway will be closed overnight from 9pm 6 February until 6am 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M40 – junction 16 link to M42 junction 3a: carriageway repairs

Northbound link road will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 6 February until 8 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M40 – M42 junction 3a Link to M40 Junction 16: carriageway works

Southbound link road will be closed overnight for one night from 9pm 7 February until 6am the following morning (8 February) A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M42 – junction 4 entry slip road: carriageway works

Northbound slip road will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 7 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M42 – junction 5 exit slip road: carriageway works

Northbound slip road will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 7 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M42 – junction 3 exit slip road: carriageway works

Southbound slip road will be closed for one night from 9pm 7 February until 6am the following morning (8 February). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M42 – junction 4 exit slip road: carriageway works

Northbound slip road closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 6 February until 9 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M5 – junctions 4a to 5: major scheme works

Southbound carriageway will be closed between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 10 February and again on 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M5 – junctions 5 to 6: major scheme works

Southbound carriageway including southbound entry slip at junction 5 closed between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 10 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M5 – junctions 5 to 4a: major scheme works

Northbound carriageway including northbound entry slip at junction 5 closed between 8pm and 6am from 7 February until 10 February and again on 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A46 – Coventry Eastern Bypass

Northbound carriageway closed between 8pm and 6am on 7 February and southbound carriageway closed at the same time on 8 and 9 and 11 and 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

A45 – Stonebridge Highway

Eastbound carriageway closed between 8pm and 6am from 10 to 12 February.

M54 – junction 5 to junction 6: carriageway repairs

Westbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M54 – junction 3 to junction 4 including junction 3 entry slip road: drainage works

Westbound carriageway including the entry slip road will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 9 February until 11 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M54 – junction 4 to junction 3 including junction 4 entry slip road: drainage works

Eastbound carriageway including the entry slip road will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 6 February until 9 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 6 Salford Circus to M6: carriageway works

Carriageway will be closed overnight in both directions between 9pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 2 entry slip road: carriageway works

Southbound entry slip road will be closed overnight for one night form 9pm 5 February until 6am the following morning (6 February). A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – Hilton Park services exit slip road: carriageway works

Northbound exit slip road will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 6 February until 11 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – Hilton Park Services exit and entry slip road: carriageway works

Southbound exit and entry slip roads will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 15 to junction 16 including junction 15 entry slip road: carriageway works

Northbound carriageway and entry slip road will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 8 February until 10 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 6 exit slip road: carriageway works

Southbound exit slip road will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 14 to junction 15 including junction 14 entry slip road: carriageway works

Northbound carriageway and entry slip road will be closed overnight for one night from 10pm 10 February until 6am the following morning. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 13 to junction 12: carriageway works

The Southbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 7th February until 9th February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 16 to junction 15 including junction 16 entry slip road: carriageway works

Southbound carriageway and entry slip road will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 6th February until 8th February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 6 exit slip road: carriageway works

Northbound exit slip road will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 6 slip road: carriageway works

North and southbound entry and exit slip road will be closed for 24 hours from 9pm 6 February until 6am 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 15 to junction 16 including junction 15 entry slip road: carriageway works

Northbound carriageway and entry slip road will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 11 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M6 – junction 8 to M5 junction 1 link road (Western Arm): carriageway works

Southbound link road will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am from 6 February until 12 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

M69 – junction 1 to M6 junction 2 link road: carriageway works

Northbound link road will be closed overnight between 9pm and 6am from 6 February until 8 February. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

Minister for the Constitution Chris Skidmore met with students from Q3 Academy Great Barr today to discuss ways of increasing voter registration in the lead up to the election for the first mayor of the West Midlands.

In addition to raising awareness about registering to vote, the visit explored the particular experiences of students living in the West Midlands and the challenges they may encounter.

Chris Skidmore, Minister for the Constitution, said:

Today’s visit will help this government better understand the experiences of young people, so that we can deliver a democracy that truly works for everyone. The students at Great Barr showed real enthusiasm for ensuring that their voices are heard, and debated a number of ideas about how to promote the importance of democratic participation among their peers.

This is particularly meaningful in the lead up to the election for the first mayor of the West Midlands. Regardless of who you are, every voice matters and we encourage you to register to vote in what will be a significant moment for your area.

Mr Mark Arnull, Head of School at Q3 Academy Great Barr, said:

We are delighted to welcome Mr Chris Skidmore MP to Q3 Academy Great Barr today to promote greater voter registration, especially in the preparation of the election of the first Mayor of West Midlands.

The more we engage in the democratic process the better we can strengthen British Values and democracy. At Q3 Academy young people’s voices are heard and they need to be fully represented at the political level too.

The minister is visiting the West Midlands as part of his Every Voice Matters Tour. The tour will see him visit every part of the country to understand how to tackle barriers to voter registration.

As part of his trip to the West Midlands, the minister also visited Aston University, where he presented the royal warrant for the Regius Professorship for research in Pharmacy.