In December 2014 the Department for Transport (DfT) published the Road Investment Strategy (RIS) for 2015-2020. The RIS sets out the list of schemes that are to be delivered by Highways England over the period covered by the RIS (2015 – 2020). The RIS identifies improvements to M25 J10/A3 Wisley Interchange as one of the key investments in the SRN for the London and South East region.

The proposed improvements being as follows: “…improvement of the Wisley interchange to allow free-flowing movement in all directions, together with improvements to the neighbouring Painshill interchange on the A3 to improve safety and congestion across the two sites.”

The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by Highways England on 19 June 2019 and accepted for Examination on 17 July 2019.

Following Examinations during which the public, Statutory Consultees and Interested Parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the Examining Authority, recommendations were made to the Secretary of State on 12 October 2020. 

This is the 111th Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project and 39th transport application to have been examined by The Planning Inspectorate within the timescales laid down in the Planning Act 2008. 

The Planning Inspectorate’s Chief Executive, Sarah Richards said: 

” The Planning Inspectorate has now examined more than 100 nationally significant infrastructure projects since the Planning Act 2008 process was introduced, ensuring local communities have had the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them. 

This Examination took place during the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions and the Examination period was extended by the Secretary of State as a result. The Examining Authority worked hard to ensure that local people, the local authority and other Interested Parties were able to fully participate.

The Examining Authority listened and gave full consideration to local views and the evidence gathered during the examination before making their recommendation. ”

The decision, the recommendation made by the Examining Authority to the Secretary of State and the evidence considered by the Examining Authority in reaching its recommendation are publicly available on the project pages of the National Infrastructure Planning website

Journalists wanting further information should contact the Planning Inspectorate Press Office, on 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005 or email: Press.office@planninginspectorate.gov.uk   

Notes to editors: 

The Planning Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure Programme of Projects details the proposals which are anticipated to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate as applications in the coming months.  

Welcome Ambassador Braathu, welcome Jan, and thank you to you and your team for the comprehensive Report. The UK values the work of the Mission and the achievements highlighted.

Your Report clearly sets out the political backdrop to the Mission’s work. This includes the 16 January referendum that paved the way for constitutional amendments to strengthen the Judiciary, the opening of two EU negotiation clusters, as well as Presidential and early Parliamentary elections on 3rd April. We welcome that some previous recommendations by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) were taken into account for these elections, and we encourage a continued focus on responding to any shortcomings identified in the ODIHR’s final report.

On your report, Ambassador Braathu, we note the concerns about the polarised media scene and welcome the Mission’s valuable advocacy and support. Media freedom is essential for the effective functioning of any democracy, and it is vital that journalists can carry out their work free of threats or physical attacks. We also note that during the reporting period over 300 journalists obtained free legal aid through the Mission-supported 24/7 helpline, and that the Mission produced video podcasts on safety of women journalists. It would be good to hear your further assessment on the impact and reach of these resources and any feedback received. I also commend the Mission’s support for media literacy in schools, which is essential in today’s digital world.

On war crimes, we have long been concerned about the appearance of murals and graffiti depicting convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic. We therefore welcome the Mission’s work in supporting Serbia in taking action to secure accountability for war crimes.

Given the ethnic Albanian community concerns about passivization of addresses and the language used by some public officials and tabloids to describe the community, we welcome the Mission’s advocacy for inclusive multi-ethnic representation. The Mission is well placed to provide support and expertise. We welcome its intercultural activities for youth from diverse ethnic communities. We also recognise the Mission’s educational support – including its training programme to prevent discrimination against Roma children. The Mission’s work, including at grassroots level, is commendable. We appreciate that you will offer support and expertise for the 2022 population census and for National Minority Council elections.

Ambassador Braathu, we greatly appreciate the Mission’s focus on gender across its activities, including in relation to gender-based violence, gender-sensitive labour policies, and on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. The value of achieving gender equality, and ensuring gender inclusive and responsive decision-making, is well known. We also highly value your work with youth, including with the civil society organisation, the Centre for Research, Transparency and Accountability, on election observation through the “Democracy Academy”.

Finally, as we said at the Permanent Council last week, the UK continues to support strongly the EU-facilitated Dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, working towards a comprehensive and sustainable normalisation agreement that will be to the benefit of the people of both countries. It is vital that both sides refrain from any rhetoric or activity which may reduce the chances of constructive progress in the Dialogue. We value the continued work of EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak. It is incumbent on both Kosovo and Serbia to seize the opportunity for renewed, good-faith engagement in the Dialogue, honouring the Dialogue commitments they have made so far, and holding regular talks at all levels in a spirit of compromise, and openness to positive, imaginative solutions.

In conclusion, I would like to thank you, Ambassador Braathu, dear Jan, and your team for your support, commitment and hard work over the reporting period.

Thank you Chair

Minister for Employment, Mims Davies MP, and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Lords Minister, Baroness Stedman-Scott, visited a new Jobcentre in Brighton to officially open the site and mark the completion of the programme to open almost 200 new temporary Jobcentres across Great Britain.

With all 194 sites now open, jobseekers from Aberdeen to Plymouth can access DWP’s services in a welcoming, modern environment, where they can meet local employers and be matched to record vacancies in a wide range of sectors.

Work Coaches at the new site in Brighton have joined thousands of colleagues up and down the country at the forefront of the Government’s drive to get 500,000 people currently out of work into jobs by the end of the summer as part of the ‘Way to Work’ campaign.

They are also supporting claimants move to Universal Credit by the end of 2024 as part of the DWP’s careful and phased process to contact those still claiming legacy benefits, as it was revealed earlier this week that around 1.4 million people would be an average of around £220 a month better off on Universal Credit.

The Ministers spoke to some of the 45 Work Coaches at the new Brighton Jobcentre and heard about how they are supporting a wide range of customers with one-on-one tailored support to find their next role.

Mims Davies MP, Minister for Employment, said:

We know how much value people get from being in work, both financially and in boosting their confidence and wellbeing, which is why we’ve increased our local DWP Jobcentre support across all communities.

I was delighted to officially open the additional new JCP site in Brighton Queens Square today alongside my DWP colleague, Baroness Stedman-Scott. It was great meeting our Work Coaches and colleagues from Instant who have been integral in getting our new sites up and running and fitting out these new modern environments to make a positive difference to the lives of so many people.

This opening marks the completion of our expansion programme with 194 additional Jobcentres now open across Great Britain to support the impact of the pandemic and help people progress. We are getting jobseekers into the record number of vacancies while also supporting those in low paid work to be able to increase their hours, to earn more and move forward in their career.

DWP Minister Baroness Stedman-Scott said:

Our work coaches go above and beyond to help jobseekers no matter their circumstances, unlocking employment barriers, guiding them towards new work and upskilling opportunities to have brighter futures.

Jobcentres like this one provide the ideal environment for jobseekers to meet employers, be supported to find work in sectors they may not ordinarily consider and for Universal Credit customers to secure their next role or promotion.

The Jobcentre Plus expansion is among the largest and rapid of its kind in the UK. It has enabled Work Coaches to provide vital support to help people back to work following the Covid-19 Pandemic and has been shortlisted for a Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Award in 2022 in the Public Sector category. The awards showcase the most inspirational initiatives and developments in land, real estate, construction and infrastructure.

Janet White is one of the new recruits based at Brighton Jobcentre Plus.

DWP Work Coach Janet White said:

I love being a Work Coach. Getting to know people and supporting them along the way is very rewarding. Helping people to move forward, gain skills, confidence and an engaging job is so worthwhile.

Piers Harrison is the Customer Service Leader overseeing the new site, bringing with him four years of DWP experience.

Customer Service Leader Piers Harrison said:

I’m really excited for this opportunity to bring our work coach services to the heart of the city located in a fantastic building right in the heart of Brighton. This is a fantastic opportunity for our colleagues to support thousands of customers into training and employment using a tailored approach, in a new, modern, vibrant environment.

• All 194 new temporary jobcentre sites have now opened. A full list of temporary jobcentre sites can be found on GOV UK

• Brighton JCP can be found at 15 Queen Square, Brighton BN1 3FD

• If you want to find out what your entitlement on Universal Credit might be, visit the benefit calculator page on GOV UK

• If someone thinks they will be better off they can then make a claim to Universal Credit online easily by visiting the Apply for Universal Credit page

• Claimants must be aware that, once a claim to Universal Credit is made, they cannot go back to their legacy benefits

Media enquiries for this press release – 0115 965 8781

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I have today (12 May 2022) published the draft statutory instrument The Motor Fuel (Composition and Content (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2022 and accompanying explanatory memorandum.

These regulations amend The Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) Regulations 1999 to require the introduction of E10 petrol (petrol with up to 10% ethanol) at filling stations in Northern Ireland.

Following the successful introduction of E10 in Great Britain in September 2021, this subsequent amendment will bring the ethanol content of standard grade petrol in Northern Ireland in line with rest of the UK. The regulations also ensure the ongoing availability of E5 petrol (petrol with 5% or less ethanol) for those with vehicles and equipment unsuitable for use with E10.

At present, standard grade petrol in Northern Ireland contains up to 5% renewable ethanol (referred to as E5). Increasing the renewable ethanol content to up to 10% (E10) can reduce the CO2 emissions from a petrol vehicle by the equivalent of around 2% per mile travelled. This, combined with increases to overall renewable fuel targets could cut overall transport CO2 emissions by a further 750,000 tonnes a year, the equivalent of taking around 350,000 cars off the road.

Transport is one of the biggest contributing sectors to carbon emissions in Northern Ireland, where 59% of new cars registered in 2019 were petrol powered – the reductions achieved through the introduction of E10 will help decarbonise the existing vehicle fleet and help meet climate change targets.

Introducing E10 will also help support UK farmers and the domestic ethanol industry, reducing reliance on imported oil in accordance with the aims of the UK energy security strategy and the Ten point plan for a green industrial revolution. Producing ethanol also creates the valuable byproducts of high-protein animal feed and stored CO2, reducing reliance on imported products, in line with the government’s bioeconomy strategy.

The regulations are published in accordance with the procedure required by schedule 8 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and agreed with Parliament. The draft regulations will be available for review for 28 days before they are laid and debates scheduled.

These regulations were subject to open consultation. The policy detail, government response and impact assessment are available.