Author Archives: HM Government

I am delighted to be able to speak to you briefly, after what I understand has been an extremely productive day.

As the Minister of State for the Department for Exiting the EU, I spend a lot of time travelling and speaking to Governments about the negotiations, so I value highly the opportunity to speak directly to members of our Polish community at an event such as this.

First, I’d like to thank the Polish Social and Cultural Association for hosting the event today and for what I hope will be the beginning of an ongoing partnership to bring together the British Government with the Polish community. Secondly, thank you to all of you who have taken the time to attend today’s event.

The very objective of today is to bring you, the Polish community’s leaders and representatives, together with Government to discuss the issues that matter most to you.

I know that many of you will be concerned about what Brexit means for your future in the UK. I hope that the Prime Minister’s speech in Florence last month offered some reassurance.

In no uncertain terms she stated to all EU citizens who have made their lives in our country – that we want you to stay; we value you; and we thank you for your contribution to our national life.

You in this room — as members of the one million strong Polish community in the UK — are incredibly valued members of our communities. You make a significant contribution to Britain’s economic, cultural and social life.

Polish entrepreneurs have set up approximately 30,000 companies in the UK. There are about 6,000 Polish students studying at our universities.

And centres like this one help bring communities together, build bridges and understanding, and make Britain the inclusive and diverse society it is. So I want to stress, as our Home Secretary Amber Rudd said just last week during a visit to Warsaw, you are an important part of our community and we very much want Poles to continue staying in Britain.

We recognise the uncertainty that the referendum result has caused. But we want to make sure that everyone here is welcome – and that you’re able to carry on living your lives as before.

I hope that today’s event, as well as the British Embassy’s ongoing work with Polish Diaspora in the UK, goes some way to demonstrate that commitment.

Let me stress — the guarantee we are giving on your rights is real. We have also committed to incorporating our agreement fully into UK law and make sure the UK courts can refer directly to it.

We are determined to get on with the job and deliver certainty to people as soon as possible. Both parties in negotiations want to achieve the best possible outcome and the strongest possible partnership – one that works for the UK and for the EU.

As we set out in more detail earlier today, the negotiations in Brussels have been constructive and we are encouraged at the progress made on the following main issues:

• Significant progress has been made on citizens’ rights. Around two-thirds of the outstanding issues have now been resolved.
• We have made good progress on Ireland, including on respecting the Belfast Agreement and maintaining the Common Travel Area.
• And we have also reached agreement on a host of lower-profile separation issues.

As you will have read in the papers, the financial settlement is a key aspect of the negotiations for Member States – we are working with our partners across Europe to give them the certainty they need.

It’s clear that there is further to go but, thanks to the constructive and determined manner with which both sides have conducted these negotiations we are making decisive steps forward. We are confident that we can resolve the outstanding issues.

Even while we’re leaving the EU, we want to continue to deepen the strong relationship we already have with Poland, after decades of cooperation.

Britain’s relationship with Poland has gone from strength to strength. Next month, Sir Alan Duncan will host a reception launching the new Belvedere Civil Society Forum in the UK. This forum will bring our civil societies together – business, universities, think tanks, parliaments, media and cultural institutions – to swap ideas, make new connections and contacts.

And the Prime Minister will travel to Poland in December to the second Inter-Governmental Consultations, where we will look to strengthen our comprehensive programme of collaboration in defence, foreign policy, security, the economy and business, science and innovation.

Poland is the first country the UK has met in this format. Last year, we agreed a set of actions that have enhanced the UK-Poland relationship.

British troops are now in Poland, and we have increased our cooperation to tackle modern slavery and organised crime.

This year, we will continue to deepen and broaden our relationship by agreeing a new set of actions.

We want to continue working together to face our shared security threats, for instance. We are unconditionally and completely committed to maintaining Europe’s security. That is why we are proposing a new security treaty between the UK and the EU.

This would be part of a strategic agreement that provides a comprehensive framework for future security, law enforcement and criminal justice co-operation. And it would complement the extensive and mature relationships that we already have with European friends to promote our common security.

I know that many of you will be concerned about what Brexit means for these relationships in future. But when we leave the EU we will not leave.We want to continue to be close friends, committed trading partners and unwavering allies to the EU even after we have left.

So I hope that you leave today more informed by the steps we’re taking to secure your future. I also hope that, as community leaders, you leave today feeling more empowered and able to share this information with your friends and relatives in the Polish community.

Reassuring and informing, however, will be a shared endeavour. That’s why we plan to run more events such as this with Polish diaspora across the country – we’re looking at continuing the programme in Edinburgh and the Midlands.

We would therefore be very interested in your feedback in how today went and want to hear from those of you who would like to be involved in future events.

Please do get in touch with my department, or speak to the officials here, to share your thoughts. Thank you.

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Traffic officers are to help combat congestion on roads surrounding the M5 Oldbury viaduct as Highways England and the West Midlands Combined Authority join forces to improve journeys.

The two organisations have signed a partnership agreement that involves closer communication and sharing working arrangements to provide better journeys and reduce congestion.

Meanwhile, the Highways England traffic officer service will, for the first time ever, provide additional support to motorists that encounter vehicle breakdowns on key roads near the M5 as part of a 13-month pilot scheme.

The service, which normally only patrols motorways and key trunk roads, will work closely with Sandwell Council as well as West Midlands Police to assist motorists and clear obstructions from incidents to keep traffic flowing in and around the Sandwell area.

Traffic officers will provide additional support to:

• motorists exiting at junction one and travelling northwest on the A41 towards Wednesbury
• motorists exiting at junction two and travelling northwest on A4123 towards the Dudley to Burnt Tree junction, which is six miles from the strategic road network
• motorists when necessary using the A4034, A457 and A4252

Highways England recently started using rapid assistance motorcycles carrying emergency fuel to combat breakdowns and ease congestion on the M5 at Oldbury, while the essential repairs take place. It is the first time fuel bikes have been used by Highways England.

The Oldbury scheme, valued at more than £100 million, includes concrete repairs and waterproofing on the ageing viaduct. It is the largest concrete repair project, by value, ever carried out in Britain.

The partnership agreement was signed by Highways England chief executive, Jim O’Sullivan and West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street.

Mr O’Sullivan said:

We want our customers to experience safer and better journeys.

Working more closely with our partners means our traffic officers can now support those who break down near the main motorway network while the Oldbury viaduct repair scheme continues.

West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, said: “It’s important that people have confidence that every step is taken to minimise disruption when essential repairs and upgrades take place.

Firstly, this means closer working between the WMCA and Highways England around planning, so that we can ensure these works go as smoothly as possible.

And secondly, measures such as introducing traffic officers to local roads means we can act more quickly when there are breakdowns to clear the way and get traffic flowing.

A huge amount of investment is going into the network in the coming years. This needs to be planned, communicated and managed as well as possible to keep disruption to a minimum. This partnership agreement will help us achieve this.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for highways and environment Councillor David Hosell, said:

I’m looking forward to seeing Highways England traffic officers on our roads. Anything that will help to keep the traffic moving while work is being done on the viaduct will help commuters and our residents.

To keep the M5 open, a contraflow system is in place with traffic currently using the northbound carriageway and two lanes operating in each direction, along with a 30mph speed limit.

Motorists are reminded to consider using alternative routes while the vital work takes place.

At the link between the M6 and the M5 southbound, one lane leads onto the M5, with three lanes continuing onto the M6, to encourage drivers to take the alternative route around Birmingham.

On the M5 northbound at junction 4a one lane continues onto the M5 through the junction while still providing two lanes to the M42.

The dynamic hard shoulder sections on either side of the M42 and on the M6 are currently being opened much earlier than usual and left on later to see if this helps traffic. The dynamic hard shoulder is used by traffic when the motorway is at its busiest.

Slip roads at junctions 1 and 2 on the M5 are being kept open, to ease effects on the local network.

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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