27 March 2017

Keith Taylor MEP: ‘Badger cull is a spectacularly expensive, ineffective and inhumane policy justified by a poor understanding of the science’

Keith Taylor, Animals spokesperson for the Green Party, is calling on the Government to end the ineffective, expensive and inhumane badger cull ahead of a debate on the divisive programme in the House of Commons.

More than 100,000 people signed a petition calling for an end to the badger cull and cancellation of plans to expand the slaughter to new areas. Since 2013, thousands of badgers have been killed in a Government cull aimed at controlling bovine tuberculosis.

Keith Taylor, Green MEP for the South East and Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Animal Welfare Intergroup, said:

“The badger cull is a spectacularly expensive, ineffective and inhumane policy justified with a poor understanding of science. Over the past four years, the Government has spent £40 million of taxpayers’ money killing 15,000 badgers in England. The so-called ‘free shooting’ method employed sees badgers subjected to slow and excruciating deaths. The practice is considered cruel and ineffective by the Government’s own experts and the British Veterinary Association.”

“Despite the expense and extensive cruelty, not to mention the systematic destruction of a protected species, the Government has provided no evidence to prove that killing badgers is having any impact on lowering bovine TB around badger cull zones. Ministers also refuse to accept a growing mountain of scientific research, which indicates that badgers largely avoid interaction with cattle and reveals just how difficult it is for badgers to transmit bovine TB to a cow.”

“The scientific evidence and economic analysis tell us that the cull is an irrational and failed project. In fact, the latest government-funded report concluded that the UK’s bovine TB ‘control’ programme is nothing more than mass cruelty supported by a bad reading of the science.”

“Rather than condemning thousands more badgers to long, painful and unnecessary deaths, the government needs to re-focus its efforts on humane and evidence-based controls.”

“I’m calling on MPs and the Government to make the compassionate, scientifically sound and economically literate choice and put an end to the cull once and for all.”

 

 

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The Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for the UN and the Commonwealth and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, will travel to New York this week, during the final days of the UK’s Security Council presidency.

The Minister will use her two-day visit to signal UK support for more women mediators within the UN system. She will outline the UK’s next steps on the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) and discuss UN peacekeeping performance and reform.

On Monday, the Minister will meet with a range of senior representatives within the UN system. She will co-host events focused on increasing the number of women mediators within the UN and tackling sexual exploitation and abuse within peacekeeping missions. She will also meet with NGOs to discuss modern slavery.

On Tuesday, she will host an event to mark five years of the UK-led Initiative to end sexual violence in conflict , at which she will promote draft Principles for Global Action aimed at tackling the stigma attached to sexual violence in conflict. She will meet the new US Permanent Representative, Nikki Haley, participate in a number of meetings on sustainable peace, and will host Permanent Representatives from other Commonwealth countries, ahead of the UK-hosted Commonwealth Summit in April 2018.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Baroness Anelay said:

This visit to New York will allow us to make real progress on a range of UK priority issues at the UN.

As the UN increases its focus on gender and conflict prevention, I will be pushing for an increase in the number of women mediators in the UN system. Involving women in peace processes increases the chances for reconciliation and leads to stronger, more sustainable peace.

I will mark the five-year anniversary of the UK-led initiative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative during my visit. We must continue to build on progress to better support victims, and address stigma.

I also welcome the opportunity to discuss next steps in tackling sexual exploitation and abuse, to restore trust between peacekeepers and those they serve. I welcome the new UN Secretary General’s leadership on this issue.

Further information

Analysis of English votes for English laws in relation to government amendments made at report stage to the Bus Services Bill.

Shortly after 01:00 hrs on 28 February 2017, two track workers narrowly avoided being struck by the 22:42 hrs passenger train service from Wolverhampton to London Euston. The incident took place close to Camden Junction South, as the train was on its final approach to Euston station. It was travelling on a line that the workers believed had been blocked to traffic to allow engineering work to take place.

The train was rounding a curve at approximately 47 mph (76 km/h) when the driver became aware of a track worker, who had been installing a possession limit board associated with the engineering work, moving quickly off the line ahead of him. The driver stopped his train and contacted the signaller to report a near miss with the track worker.

The signaller then authorised the driver to continue into Euston station. The driver had accelerated the train to 24 mph (39 km/h) when he again applied the brake in response to seeing a second track worker on the line ahead. The train stopped approximately 300 metres beyond its original stopping point, adjacent to the track worker who had also been installing equipment associated with the engineering work. The track worker moved off the line when he became aware of the approaching train, but did not have time to reach a position of safety (at least 1.25 metres from the nearest line) before the train reached him because he was working in an area some distance from the nearest position of safety.

There were no injuries.

Our investigation will determine the sequence of events. It will also include consideration of:

• the way in which information about engineering possessions is published and disseminated
• the management of information about engineering possessions within signal boxes
• any related issues associated with signaller workload and fatigue; and
• any relevant underlying management factors

Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry, the British Transport Police or by the industry’s regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.

We will publish our findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of our investigation. This report will be available on our website.

You can subscribe to automated emails notifying you when we publish our reports.

The following summary of planned new and ongoing road improvements over the coming week is correct as of 24 March 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.

M3 junctions 2 (M25) to 4a Farnborough, Hampshire: smart motorway improvement

Work to reduce congestion and improve journey times continues this week between junctions 2 and 4a with narrow lanes and a 50mph speed limit in place on both carriageways, with a free recovery service operating 24 hours a day. The scheme is due to be completed in June 2017.

For further information, visit the scheme website.

M3 junction 6 (Black Dam Junction) Basingstoke, Hampshire: road markings, improvements and drainage

Work to improve journeys by laying additional road markings at the Black Dam junction and improving footpaths along the A30 London Road continues this week. The A30 London Road approach to the junction and the link in the centre of the junction for traffic from the A30 heading to Ringway East will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 6am, from Monday 27 March for 5 nights.

A local diversion and access will be maintained for local residents only through Old Basing; all other vehicles and HGVs will be diverted from junction 5 (hook) and along the M3. In addition, work to maintain road user safety by carrying out drainage maintenance around junction 6 starts this week. Lane closures will be in place on the M3 north and southbound carriageways and on all slip roads overnight, between 9pm and 6am, from Monday 27 March for 5 nights.

M3 junction 8 Popham, Hampshire: bridge strengthening

Work to maintain journeys by replacing bridge bearings and supports continues this week. Narrow lanes and a 50mph speed restriction are in place on the link from the M3 southbound to the A303 westbound 24/7 until May. The M3 southbound carriageway from junction 7 to junction 9 will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 6am, from Wednesday 29 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A30, A303 and A34.

The M3 northbound carriageway from junction 9 to junction 8 will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 6am, on Thursday 30 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A34 and A303.

M3 junctions 8 Popham to 9 Winchester, Hampshire: safety barrier repairs

Work to improve safety by carrying out repairs to the barrier along the M3 continues this week. Lane closures will be in place on the southbound carriageway near Winchester Service Area overnight, between 10pm and 6am, until Thursday 13 April (Monday to Friday only).

M3 junction 9 Winchester, Hampshire: signage

Work to keep road users informed by maintaining the road signage along the M3 continues this week. Lane closures will be in place on the southbound carriageway and exit slip road at the junction overnight, between 9pm and 6am, on Tuesday 28 March.

M3 junctions 12 Chandlers Ford to 11 Winchester, Hampshire: signage

Work to keep road users informed by maintaining the road signage along the M3 continues this week. Lane closures will be in place on the northbound carriageway overnight, between 9pm and 6am, on Monday 27 March.

M3 junction 12 Chandlers Ford, Hampshire: street lighting

Work to maintain safety by carrying out street lighting maintenance at the junction continues this week. The southbound exit and entry slip roads will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 6am, until Tuesday 4 April (Monday to Friday only). Clearly signed diversions will be in place via the adjacent junctions.

M4 junctions 5 Slough to 6 Windsor, Berkshire: street lighting

Work to maintain safety by carrying out street lighting maintenance along the M4 continues this week. Lane closures will be in place on the east and westbound carriageways overnight, between 9pm and 6am, until Friday 28 April.

M4 junction 10 Wokingham, Berkshire: bridge reconstruction

Work to improve journeys by refurbishing the bridge that carries the link roads over the M4 continues this week. Narrow lanes and a 40mph speed limit are in place on the slip roads and a 50mph speed limit is in place on the M4 carriageway until November 2017.

M4 junctions 10 Wokingham to 11 Reading, Berkshire: bridge joint and safety barrier

Work to improve safety by replacing the joint of a bridge near Reading Services and carrying out repairs to the barrier along the M4 near Shinfield continues this week. The westbound carriageway will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 6am, from Monday 27 March for 3 nights and again on Friday 31 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A4.

M4 junctions 12 Theale to 13 Chieveley, West Berkshire: bridge refurbishment

Work to improve journeys by refurbishing the bridges that carry the M4 over Dark Lane and Ashampstead Road continues this week. Narrow lanes and a 50mph speed limit will be in place on the east and westbound carriageways until August.

The westbound carriageway will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 6am, on Thursday 30 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A4.

The M4 east and westbound carriageways, between junctions 12 and 13, will be fully closed from 9pm on Friday 31 March through to 6am on Monday 3 April. The main diversion will run via the A4. Road users are advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes including M40, M25, A34, A33 and A404.

M4 junctions 13 Chieveley to 14 Hungerford, West Berkshire: drainage and bridge maintenance

Work to improve journeys by maintaining the drainage along the M4 near Welford finishes this week. Lane closures will be in place on the eastbound carriageway overnight, between 9pm and 6am, until Friday 31 March.

Work to replace the joints and waterproofing material to the bridge which carries the B4000 Ermin Street/Baydon Road over the M4 continues this week. Temporary traffic lights will be in place on the B4000 during day-time hours, Friday 28 April (Monday to Friday only).

In addition, the B4000 between The Long Yard/B4000 junction and the Five Bells Pub at Wickham will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 6am, from Monday 20 March for 6 weeks (Monday to Friday only). A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A338, Hungerford, A4 and B4000.

M27 junctions 2 to 3 Southampton, Hampshire: road markings

Work to improve road user’s journeys by renewing the road markings along the M27 continues this week. Lane closures will be in place on the westbound carriageway overnight, between 9pm and 6am, on Monday 27 March.

M27 junction 5 Eastleigh, Hampshire: road markings

Work to improve road user’s journeys by completing the resurfacing work at the junction and renewing the road markings along the M27 continues this week. The eastbound exit and entry slip roads will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 6am, on Monday 27 March. Clearly signed diversion will be in place via the adjacent junctions.

M27 junctions 7 Hedge End to 8 Bursledon, Hampshire: road markings

Work to improve road user’s journeys by completing the renewal of the road markings near junction 8 finishes this week. Lane closures will be in place on the eastbound carriageway overnight, between 9pm and 6am, on Monday 27 March.

M27 junctions 8 Bursledon to 9 Whiteley, Hampshire: resurfacing and drainage

Work to improve journeys by resurfacing and maintain the drainage asset along the M27 finishes this week. The eastbound carriageway will be closed from junctions 8 to 9 overnight, between 10pm and 6am, until Friday 31 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A27 for standard vehicles (e.g. motorcycles, cars), with HGVs being diverted via Botley, Curbridge and Swanwick due to a low bridge along the A27.

A3(M) junctions 5 to 4 Bedhampton, Hampshire: signage

Work to improve journeys by maintaining the road signs along the A3(M) continues this week. The northbound entry slip road at junction 5, lane 1 of the northbound carriageway and the northbound exit slip road at junction 4 will be closed overnight, between 9pm and 6am, until Friday 7 April (Monday to Friday only). Clearly signed diversions will be in place via adjacent junctions.

In addition, lane closures will be in place on the southbound carriageway overnight, between 9pm and 6am, from Monday 27 March for 3 nights.

A3 Burpham, Surrey: street lighting

Work to maintain road user safety by carrying out maintenance to the street lighting at the Burpham junction starts this week. The southbound exit slip road at the Burpham junction will be closed overnight, between 9pm and 6am, from Monday 27 March for 3 weeks (Monday to Friday only). A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the Stoke Interchange.

A31 Picket Post to Ringwood, Hampshire: communication sensors

Work to improve journeys by reconnecting the communication sensors within the westbound carriageway takes place this week. Convoy traffic management with a reduced speed limit will be in place between Picket Post and Poulner Hill overnight, between 10pm and 6am, on Friday 31 March.

A31 Ferndown, Dorset: resurfacing

Work to improve journeys by resurfacing the A31 near Ferndown starts this week. The A31 westbound carriageway from the Palmersford Roundabout (A347 Ringwood Road) to the Ameysford Roundabout will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 6am, from Monday 27 March for 7 nights (Monday to Friday only). A clearly signed diversion will be in place via Wimborne Road East.

A34 Bullington to Winchester, Hampshire: drainage

Work to maintain safety by carrying out drainage maintenance continues this week. Lane closures will be in place on the southbound carriageway overnight, between 9pm and 6am, until Friday 8 April (Monday to Friday).

A34 Tufton Warren (Whitchurch), Hampshire: gap closure

Work to improve safety by closing the crossing gap in the central reserve of the A34 at Tufton Warren/Firgo Farm starts this week. Narrow lanes will be in place 24/7 on the north and southbound carriageways until Thursday 13 April. In addition lane 2 of the north and southbound carriageways will be closed overnight, between 9pm and 6am, until Thursday 13 April (Monday to Friday only).

A34 Speen, West Berkshire: resurfacing

Work to improve road users journeys by resurfacing the northbound slip roads at the junction finish this week. The northbound exit and entry slip roads will be closed overnight, between 9pm and 6am, from Monday 27 March for 2 nights. Clearly signed diversions will be in place via the adjacent junctions.

A34 Peartree to Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire: road markings and resurfacing

Work to improve journeys by resurfacing a section of the A34 northbound carriageway between Peartree and Kidlington, and to renew the road markings up to the M40 continues this week. The A34 northbound carriageway will be closed from the A44 Peartree interchange to the M40 (junction 9) overnight, between 10pm to 6am, from Monday 27 March for 3 nights.

The A34 northbound carriageway will then be closed from the A44 Peartree Interchange to the Kidlington junction overnight, between 10pm and 6am, until Friday 7 April (Monday to Friday only). Clearly signed diversions will be in place via the A44, A40 M40 for motorway permitted vehicles and via the A44, A4095 and A41 for non-motorway vehicles.

A303 Thruxton, Hampshire: resurfacing

Work to improve road user’s journeys by resurfacing a section of the A303 eastbound carriageway takes place this week. The A303 eastbound carriageway will be closed from the A338 Parkhouse Cross junction (Shipton Bellinger) to the A343 Hundred Acre junction overnight, between 9pm and 6am, from Monday 27 March for 5 nights. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A338, Ludgershall and Weyhill.

Safety at roadworks

Highways England is working with the industry and road users to reduce the risks of working on the roads. For the safety of road workers and all road users, when you are approaching roadworks:

• keep within the speed limit – it is there for your safety
• get into the correct lane in good time – don’t keep switching
• concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks
• be alert for works’ traffic leaving or entering roadworks
• keep a safe distance – there could be queues in front
• observe all signs – they are there to help you
• be alert for road workers, the roads are their workplace

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.