At about 23:15 hrs on 26 August 2020, train 6A11, the 21:52 hrs freight service from Robeston (Milford Haven) to Theale, conveying 25 tank wagons, each containing up to 75.5 tonnes of diesel or gas oil, derailed on the ‘Up District’ line near Llangennech, in Carmarthenshire. The derailment and the subsequent damage to the wagons resulted in a significant spillage of fuel and a major fire. The driver, who was unhurt, reported the accident to the signaller. Subsequent examination of the site revealed that a total of 10 wagons (positioned 3rd to 12th in the train) had derailed, and that around 330,000 litres of fuel had been spilt.

The fire was tackled by the fire service, who ordered the evacuation of local residents due to concerns for their safety. Local people have reported seeing a plume of flames and smoke, and the strong smell of fuel.

RAIB’s preliminary examination found that, although all the wheels of the train were probably rotating freely when the train left Robeston, at some point during the journey the brakes on all wheels of the third wagon of the train had become applied, and remained so until the derailment. While three of the four axles of this wagon continued to turn, although their brakes were dragging, the leading axle ceased to rotate altogether, and consequently a flat spot around 230 mm long developed on each of the wheels on this axle. There was a substantial ‘false flange’ (a raised lip on the outer side of the wheel tread) associated with these flat spots.

When the train reached the crossover at Morlais Junction, travelling at about 30 mph (48 km/h), the false flange on the right-hand wheel caught on the converging stock rail and distorted the track, leading to derailment of both wheels. Around one hundred metres further on, the partly derailed wagon encountered facing points set to route the train to the right. The locomotive and the two leading wagons went to the right and the derailed third wagon went straight ahead. The third wagon turned over onto its right-hand side and became detached from the wagon in front of it. This caused the points and the track beyond them to be destroyed, and derailment of another nine wagons followed.

The train brakes came on when the brake pipes between the wagons parted in the derailment. The locomotive and the first two wagons came to a stop about 180 metres away from the third wagon. The train driver looked back and saw that a fire had started in the wreckage. He uncoupled the locomotive from the first wagon and drove it around 400 metres away from the train.

Our investigation will identify the sequence of events and consider:

• why the brakes on the third wagon became and remained applied
• whether any other factors contributed to the derailment
• how the derailment led to the fuel spillage and fire
• the maintenance history of the third wagon
• any underlying factors

Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry, 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.

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For media enquiries, please call 01932 440015.

The government has today (21 September) announced an extension of the £5,000 grant scheme available to homes and businesses affected by flooding last winter.

The Property Flood Resilience (PFR) scheme will be extended by nine months to take into account delays to repair work and the additional pressures placed on local authorities by coronavirus. The extension will give homeowners and businesses more time to carry out repairs and local authorities a greater period to process the grants.

The new deadline for applications from communities flooded in November 2019 is now 31 December 2021, while those flooded in February 2020 have until 1 July 2022.

The grants of up to £5,000 are a contribution towards making a property more resilient to future flooding, such as putting in flood doors and raising electrics from ground level.

The extension aims to provide reassurance to eligible communities across the country affected by the flooding in November 2019 and Storms Ciara and Dennis in February 2020, giving them more time to build back better following the additional challenges placed on the country due to coronavirus.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:

Whilst the pandemic has affected us all, those who endured the hardship of flooded properties in the weeks and months ahead of coronavirus bore an even greater burden than most.

The £5,000 grant enables people to make their homes and businesses more resilient and better protected from future flooding. This is about helping them build back better and greener, while also providing a boost for local economies.

The PFR scheme is administered through local authorities. Members of the public should contact their council directly to access eligibility criteria and the application process for individual schemes.

Today’s announcement comes after the government recently unveiled its long-term plan to tackle the risks of flooding and coastal erosion, ensuring 336,000 properties in England are better protected from flooding by 2027 with a record £5.2 billion investment.

The Environment Agency also published its Flood and Coast Erosion Risk Management Strategy, a blueprint setting out how it will work with communities to deliver the government’s plan.

Flood-hit homes, businesses and charities in communities with over 25 properties flooded between 08 November and 18 November 2019 and during Storms Ciara and Dennis in February will be eligible to apply.

This Stoptober, smokers in England are being encouraged to put their lungs first, strengthen their immune system and breathe easier ahead of flu season by joining more than 2 million smokers who have made a quit attempt since 2012 with the annual campaign.

Smoking damages the lungs and airways and harms the immune system, leaving us more vulnerable to infections, such as flu. Smokers generally have an increased risk of contracting respiratory infections and experiencing more severe symptoms. Stopping smoking brings immediate benefits to health, including for people with an existing smoking-related disease.

Smoking prevalence among adults in England is at a record low of 13.9%. New data from the UCL Smoking Toolkit Study show that in England in 2020 there has been an increase of nearly a quarter (22%) in quit attempts compared to 2019 and an increase of almost two-thirds in the quitting success rate from 14% to 23%, the highest since at least 2007.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) has calculated that more than a million people in the UK stopped smoking during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.

Jo Churchill, Public Health Minister said:

It has never been more important to take care of ourselves, and quitting smoking is a great way to start.

With smoking rates already at an all-time low and 2020 seeing more people stopping than ever, I urge all smokers to join in Stoptober to improve their health and help England become a smoke-free society by 2030.

Scott Crosby, Tobacco Control Programme Manager at Public Health England, said:

2020 has been an unprecedented year for all of us and has reminded us how important our health is.

We are pleased to see that quitting rates have been extremely high so far this year and Stoptober is back to help support England’s remaining smokers to join in the national quit attempt.

It is never too late to quit. Even if you have an existing smoking-related condition, stopping smoking brings immediate health benefits.

We know that smoking damages the lungs and weakens the immune system and so now, ahead of flu season, is an ideal time to put your lung health first.

Leading UK health organisations including ASH, British Lung Foundation (BLF), British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Cancer Research UK are joining in the call to get smokers in England to give quitting a go this Stoptober.

Professor Jamie Brown, Director of the UCL Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group and co-author of a living rapid evidence review on smoking and COVID-19, said:

Evidence shows that many more smokers are trying to quit in 2020 and the highest numbers are succeeding since at least 2007.

While the evidence on COVID-19 outcomes for smokers is still developing and remains uncertain, what is clear is that stopping smoking brings rapid improvements in respiratory and cardiovascular health.

Quitting now will not only benefit people’s individual health and help improve their lung health ahead of flu season, but it will also help to reduce the demands on the healthcare system in these difficult times.

Stoptober provides the information and support people need to quit smoking for 28 days, based on research that if a smoker can make it to 28 days smokefree, they are 5 times more likely to quit for good.

This year, Stoptober is offering a range of free support tools for those looking to quit, including digital services that are easily accessible for those looking for online support. These tools include the Stoptober app, Facebook messenger bot and online communities, SMS and daily emails. There is also a Personal Quit Plan that helps people find a combination of stop smoking support that’s right for them, with options including expert support from local Stop Smoking Services, stop smoking aids and digital tools.

Search ‘Stoptober’ now for a full range of quitting support options.

Honourable Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates,

The delegation of the United Kingdom has the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of Group B.

Mr Chair, at the outset, Group B would like to thank you and vice-chairs for your continued leadership as chair of the General Assembly. We would also like to thank the WIPO Secretariat for the extraordinary efforts making these Assemblies possible. We reiterate that the first and foremost priority must be the health and safety of all involved. At the same time, we stress the importance of taking forward WIPO’s intergovernmental work.

Mr Chair, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on the social and economic wellbeing of people around the world. We would like to express our deepest condolences to colleagues and families of those staff who tragically passed away in recent months. We appreciate the work of WIPO to support the responses to the pandemic, including the WIPO COVID-19 Search Facility, the WIPO policy tracker, the WIPO crisis management dashboard and the uninterrupted provision of the WIPO Services. Collecting lessons learned from this unprecedented period will be an important exercise going forward.

Mr Chair, Group B would like to take this opportunity to thank wholeheartedly Director General Dr Francis Gurry for his leadership and his commitment to the international IP community and this organisation in particular. His report is a testament to all that has been achieved. We wish him all the very best in all his future endeavours.

Group B would also like to warmly welcome the Director General appointee Mr Daren Tang. We look forward to working closely with him during his mandate to advance WIPO’s essential contribution to international IP ecosystem.

Mr Chair, Group B sees the current period as a time to reflect on our key objectives.

First, we reiterate the importance of strengthening all WPO’s registration and classification systems in order to ensure their proper functioning and to encourage their growth.

Second, we recall the importance of digital transformation to bring the WIPO services closer to enterprises globally.

Third, new technologies are presenting new questions about the role of IP in incentivising and enabling innovation and creativity. WIPO should actively continue to advance the international discussion on IP and artificial intelligence, and other emerging areas of technology. We would also like to see WIPO taking a leading role in discussions where IP has a direct link with other policy areas, including climate change, trade, sustainable development, and health.

Fourth, we would like to stress the importance of good governance structures for WIPO, including independent oversight bodies and adherence to the UN common system and JIU recommendations. We reiterate that the WIPO results-based management is state of the art and advise further focus on results across the organisation. Internal processes – from decision-making through to back office functions, and staff satisfaction and morale – should not be immune from independent scrutiny.

In closing, Mr Chair, please rest assured that you may count on constructive contributions from Group B. I thank you, Chair.