Politics

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Press release: Major M5 repair work to start

The major concrete repair and waterproofing scheme affects the Oldbury viaduct, between junctions 1 and 2 of the motorway.

Highways England is undertaking the work as part of a major government investment to build a modern and resilient road network.

Built in the early 1970s, the structure itself is safe but work needs to be carried out to protect it for the future. To begin with traffic travelling between the affected junctions will experience narrow lanes and a 40mph speed limit when work gets under way after Easter.

And for the first time upgraded travel information signs linked direct to the Highways England regional control centres that monitor traffic flows will provide real time travel advice to motorists about the quickest journey times.

In the early summer speeds will drop to 30mph for safety reasons as a contraflow is introduced. Slip roads will be kept open throughout.

Highways England delivery manager, Colin Jackson, said:

We will be starting work on a major concrete repair and waterproofing scheme at the Oldbury viaduct, between junctions 1 and 2 of the M5 in the West Midlands, this month.

At a cost in excess of £100 million Highways England is delivering a huge investment that will support economic growth locally and in the wider West Midlands.

Motorists travelling from across the country will be encouraged to consider alternative routes such as the M42 and M6 to keep congestion to a minimum on the M5 and surrounding roads while work takes place.

Highways England is keeping the haulage, freight and distribution industries informed of the essential work, expected to last until Spring 2019, to allow their lorry drivers to plan ahead and seek alternative routes.

People are also being asked to consider car sharing or use alternative methods of transport where possible. Highways England will continue working with businesses and hauliers as well as local authority partners and other organisations as the scheme gets under way.

For more information visit the scheme website.

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.

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HM Government

News story: New Ofsted Chair announced

Professor Julius Weinberg appointed next Chair of Ofsted.

Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening today (11 April 2017) announced the appointment of Professor Julius Weinberg as next Chair of Ofsted.

As former Vice Chancellor of Kingston University and Deputy Chair of Ofqual, Professor Weinberg has had a wide-ranging career in the education sector.

Professor Weinberg has served as a board member of:

  • the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA)
  • London Higher, the umbrella organisation for higher education (HE) institutions in London
  • Access HE

He replaces interim Chair James Kempton and he will step down as Deputy Chair of Ofqual when he takes up his new role at Ofsted.

Education Secretary Justine Greening said:

Julius brings a wide range of experience from organisations in the education sector, and I’m pleased to welcome him to the role as the next Chair of Ofsted.

I am confident he and Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman will form a strong partnership.

Professor Julius Weinberg said:

I am honoured to be asked to take on the role of Chair of Ofsted and look forward to working with Ofsted in its important work of raising standards and improving the lives of children and young people.

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HM Government

News story: Safety Recommendation documents updated

Safety Recommendation documents have been published for the following aircraft accidents.

Where responses are yet to be received, this may be because addressees have 90 days to respond to a Safety Recommendation.

The AAIB will keep open Safety Recommendations where it expects to receive responses from the addressee. If no further response is expected the recommendation is Closed.

A Closed status does not mean the actions for a Safety Recommendation are complete, nor that the Safety Issue has been addressed.

A ‘Not adequate’ assessment means that the response does not address the intent of the Safety Recommendation nor does it address the safety issue concerned.

A ‘Partially adequate’ assessment means the response goes someway to meeting the intent of the Safety Recommendation and the action will address the safety issue to a certain extent, but further action would be required to fully address the issue identified.

An ‘Adequate’ assessment means that the response fully meets the intent of the Safety Recommendation and the action will address the safety issue.

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HM Government

Sharon Hodgson response to Scottish Medicines Consortium’s decision to provide Kadcyla and PrEP on the NHS

Sharon Hodgson MP, Shadow Minister for Public Health, commenting on the Scottish Medicines Consortium’s decision to provide Kadcyla and PrEP on the NHS, said:

“It is welcoming to see that both Kadcyla and PrEP will now be funded by the NHS in Scotland, after the concerted campaigning of different organisations and individuals who will benefit directly by these drugs now being made accessible. 

“These decisions are game-changing. Not only in the fact that they will help the many people in Scotland who rely upon these drugs, but also by highlighting a failure to act here in England, where Kadcyla has been provisionally rejected by NICE and is now under review and PrEP, which faced a long, drawn-out court battle, is going through yet another trial.

“These announcements must make NHS England and Jeremy Hunt sit up and listen. We need concerted action to ensure we don’t see disparities in the drug treatments on offer in Scotland and England. The Tory Government should be doing all they can to provide access to these treatments for those who need them.”

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Labour •

Libor rigging – schools, hospitals, local councils all potential victims – Shadow Chancellor demands compensation for public bodies

Libor rigging – schools, hospitals, local councils all potential victims – Shadow Chancellor demands compensation for public bodies

Local councils, NHS hospitals and schools engaged with PFI contracts, derivatives linked to Libor and day-to-day borrowing could be large scale victims of Libor rigging.

Yesterday, Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell MP, called for the Chancellor to establish a public inquiry into the scandal. He is today demanding an independent assessment of the losses to public bodies and that where losses are identified as a result of Libor rigging, they must be made good by the banks.

Revelations by the BBC’s Panorama programme concerning the involvement of the Bank of England and senior officials from major banks in the rigging of the Libor index raise urgent questions for the Bank of England and the Government:

– Did senior Bank of England officials, in allegedly applying pressure to banks to lowball their reported borrowing rates, act with or without the knowledge of Treasury officials and ministers?
– Was the Bank or Treasury aware of the potential costs to public authorities as a result of lowballing?
– How many public bodies have losses arising from their purchase of Libor-linked derivative products, and what are the scale of those losses?

John McDonnell MP said:

“This is now a matter of utmost concern that gets to the heart of failings in our banking system. Did senior officials at the Bank of England, with or without government encouragement, knowingly cause public bodies like NHS hospitals, schools and local councils to suffer potentially major losses?

“My concern is that local councils, NHS hospitals, and schools could have paid a huge cost for the Libor rigging scandal. We need to know exactly what went on, what was the impact on public finances and who was responsible. Above all else if local councils and other public bodies suffered losses then the institutions responsible should pay them back for those losses.”

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Labour •