:00:12. > :00:18.AstraZeneca as they compete over their to Cambridge. I think we could
:00:19. > :00:24.be a really brilliant team. That is what the UK needs. We ask what
:00:25. > :00:31.happened in the East the last time these `` to pharmaceutical giants
:00:32. > :00:35.merge. We will be here later with the tale of two roads.
:00:36. > :00:38.And the flowers of Flanders ` growers here take inspiration
:00:39. > :00:47.from the Western front to mark the centenary of the war.
:00:48. > :00:50.If you're a bio`scientist in Cambridgeshire,
:00:51. > :00:55.Two of the biggest drugs companies in the world falling over themselves
:00:56. > :00:58.to praise the city's qualitx of scientific research.
:00:59. > :01:01.For a second day, the bosses of Pfizer and Astra
:01:02. > :01:03.Zeneca addressed a parliamentary committee discussing the proposed
:01:04. > :01:09.But it's not all good news, with Pfizer admitting that
:01:10. > :01:13.if they win the battle therd would be job losses and a reduction in
:01:14. > :01:21.Andrew Sinclair watched tod`y's developments at Westminster.
:01:22. > :01:30.There is no doubt that Cambridge and its skill set is highly sought
:01:31. > :01:32.after. What worries MPs is, will that skill set still be in Cambridge
:01:33. > :01:34.in the same number as if the that skill set still be in Cambridge
:01:35. > :01:36.in the same number as if thd merger in the same number as if thd merger
:01:37. > :01:40.goes ahead? Pfizer have said they will be committed to Cambridge but
:01:41. > :01:42.have not said how many staff there will employ. This is a company that
:01:43. > :01:44.will employ. This is a comp`ny that is a very big employer in the
:01:45. > :01:48.region. Once again, the team from region. Once again, the team from
:01:49. > :01:50.Pfizer arrived at Westminster with the message that their mergdr
:01:51. > :01:53.Pfizer arrived at Westminstdr with the message that their merger with
:01:54. > :01:58.AstraZeneca would create a powerhouse of science, particularly
:01:59. > :02:01.in Cambridge. The company rdvealed it was very impressed with oncology
:02:02. > :02:03.research work, currently behng research work, currently being
:02:04. > :02:11.undertaken by AstraZeneca staff in the city. That is a real core area
:02:12. > :02:16.for us and it complements our strengths. We could be a re`lly
:02:17. > :02:20.winning team putting the best of the two together. AstraZeneca fears that
:02:21. > :02:23.two together. AstraZeneca fdars that work could move to America if Pfizer
:02:24. > :02:26.work could move to America hf Pfizer takes over. Once again, a lot of the
:02:27. > :02:29.questions focused on the detail Would there be fewer jobs in
:02:30. > :02:34.Cambridge, less investment in the Cambridge, less investment in the
:02:35. > :02:36.UK? The boss of Pfizer admitted there would be fewer staff hn the
:02:37. > :02:39.there would be fewer staff in the whole company and less monex for
:02:40. > :02:46.research, but he said that is happening across the industry. Even
:02:47. > :02:47.AstraZeneca have shed staff. We are in an extremely competitive world
:02:48. > :02:51.where governments around the world where governments around thd world
:02:52. > :02:54.are requiring us to be more productive and efficient. Wd have
:02:55. > :03:01.productive and efficient. We have two CR research in that point of
:03:02. > :03:05.view. A more optimistic message from AstraZeneca. They removed it
:03:06. > :03:07.Cambridge, they said, was underway. There are plans for the future were
:03:08. > :03:12.There are plans for the futtre were to keep growing and investing in the
:03:13. > :03:18.city. We are not moving to Cambridge and spending all this money
:03:19. > :03:19.overnight to reduce the headcount. Cambridge is going to be a
:03:20. > :03:20.fundamental part of the str`tegy. Cambridge is going to be a
:03:21. > :03:23.fundamental part of the strategy. It fundamental part of the str`tegy. It
:03:24. > :03:28.is at the heart of the science agenda. Pfizer says it can be more
:03:29. > :03:31.specific about plans for Cambridge if it takes over the companx. Many
:03:32. > :03:34.if it takes over the company. Many politicians and scientists remain
:03:35. > :03:41.wary. Andrew, why are MPs so worrhed about
:03:42. > :03:43.this proposed takeover? First of all, they are scarred by melories of
:03:44. > :03:45.all, they are scarred by memories of the Cadbury 's takeover. Thd
:03:46. > :03:46.all, they are scarred by melories of the Cadbury 's takeover. The other
:03:47. > :03:50.the Cadbury 's takeover. Thd other reason is that this country's
:03:51. > :03:55.economic policies based on the success of the so`called knowledge
:03:56. > :03:56.economy. We're never going to be a big manufacturing nation ag`in
:03:57. > :04:01.because we cannot compete with China because we cannot compete with China
:04:02. > :04:06.and India. But we are very good at science and innovation. Govdrnment
:04:07. > :04:12.policy has been to do all that is possible to encourage science to
:04:13. > :04:17.Cambridge and the surrounding area. The problem we have is that science
:04:18. > :04:19.likes to work in clusters. The worry is that if some of the AstraZeneca
:04:20. > :04:21.is that if some of the Astr`Zeneca work starts to move to other parts
:04:22. > :04:25.of the world, other companids in of the world, other companies in
:04:26. > :04:28.Cambridge and surrounding areas may follow it. Then the worry is that
:04:29. > :04:34.would be bad not just for the country's economy, but for the
:04:35. > :04:38.economy of the region. That is why MPs are desperate to get sole sort
:04:39. > :04:41.of firm reassurance from Pfhzer Thank you.
:04:42. > :04:44.So what lessons can we learn from previous mega mergers?
:04:45. > :04:45.Thirteen years ago, the pharmaceutical companies,
:04:46. > :04:48.Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham, got together to become
:04:49. > :04:52.After a few years, a major research site was closed.
:04:53. > :04:55.Hundreds of jobs were lost, as our business correspondent
:04:56. > :05:06.The East of England is home to what is arguably Europe's most important
:05:07. > :05:10.is arguably Europe's most ilportant biotech and life sciences cluster.
:05:11. > :05:13.It boasts more than 250 biotech companies, 100 medical technology
:05:14. > :05:18.firms and 370 service organisations. firms and 370 service organisations.
:05:19. > :05:23.It is all within a biotech golden triangle between London, Oxford and
:05:24. > :05:24.Cambridge. The jewel in the crown would be the new AstraZenec`
:05:25. > :05:29.would be the new AstraZeneca research and development centre in
:05:30. > :05:35.Cambridge, due to open in 2016. But there is an equally important jewel
:05:36. > :05:40.in Stevenage, the GlaxoSmithKline research Centre. This place employs
:05:41. > :05:45.2300 people and has the job of developing the new drugs pipeline of
:05:46. > :05:48.Britain's biggest pharmaceuticals company. Behind it is a story which
:05:49. > :05:51.illustrates the dangers of megamergers in the drugs sector.
:05:52. > :05:51.illustrates the dangers of megamergers in the drugs sector 13
:05:52. > :05:53.megamergers in the drugs sector. 13 years ago, Glaxo merged with
:05:54. > :05:57.SmithKline Beecham. SmithKlhne had a SmithKline Beecham. SmithKlhne had a
:05:58. > :05:59.major research Centre in Harlow. major research Centre in Harlow.
:06:00. > :06:03.After a few years, the largdst park After a few years, the largdst park
:06:04. > :06:09.was closed with the loss of 380 jobs. It shows how difficult it is
:06:10. > :06:11.to avoid job cuts, even if xou jobs. It shows how difficult it is
:06:12. > :06:12.to avoid job cuts, even if you have to avoid job cuts, even if xou have
:06:13. > :06:18.a national merger among two British companies. It is very difficult to
:06:19. > :06:23.make commitments in advance because you need to give companies the
:06:24. > :06:27.flexibility to adjust to ch`nging circumstances. And if those
:06:28. > :06:32.circumstances call for a job cuts, it is often the junior partner who
:06:33. > :06:38.suffers. Has Harlow recovered since? There are green shoots. As one of
:06:39. > :06:44.the enterprise zones in the country, we are trying very hard to dntice
:06:45. > :06:46.companies to relocate to Harlow. We are hoping that eventually there
:06:47. > :06:52.will be replaced. Harlow still bears will be replaced. Harlow still bears
:06:53. > :06:57.the scars of a drugs merger. This flagship research building remains
:06:58. > :07:00.empty as Pfizer's battle for AstraZeneca hots up, Cambridge will
:07:01. > :07:03.be hoping to avoid a similar fate. A court has heard that two teenagers
:07:04. > :07:07.were shot dead on a Milton Keynes Luton Crown Court was told both
:07:08. > :07:12.victims were shot in the head during the execution`style killing
:07:13. > :07:15.in May two years ago. Two men have already been convicted
:07:16. > :07:17.of murdering 19`year`old Mohammed Abdi Farah
:07:18. > :07:21.and 18`year`old Amin Ahmed Ismail. Neil Bradford is at
:07:22. > :07:30.Luton Crown Court. The prosecution say the mothve
:07:31. > :07:34.in this case is a familiar one. Rivalry between criminals arising
:07:35. > :07:38.from the trade of illegal drugs. In May 2011 Mohammed Farrah,
:07:39. > :07:43.who was 19, and 18`year`old Amin Ahmed Ismail,
:07:44. > :07:48.were both shot in the head `t close range, in an alleyway on thd
:07:49. > :07:51.Fishermead estate in Milton Keynes. Today the jury heard
:07:52. > :07:56.a 999 call made by a local resident, In the recording he tells the
:07:57. > :08:03.operator he has heard two gunshots As the call continues,
:08:04. > :08:09.a third shot is heard. The prosecution say it was
:08:10. > :08:26.administered to ensure In the dock, the accused RA 26 of
:08:27. > :08:31.Dutch national and a 20`year`old. Opening for the prosecution,
:08:32. > :08:33.Jonathan Price QC told the jury that there was a chillingly brazen
:08:34. > :08:34.there was a chillingly brazdn character to these murders. And the
:08:35. > :08:47.man who died 999 had effecthvely man who died 999 had effecthvely
:08:48. > :08:51.staged an execution. The prosecution say there are five men involved in
:08:52. > :08:56.these shootings. Three have already been tried. Two have been found
:08:57. > :08:58.guilty and another acquitted. The prosecution say they are all part of
:08:59. > :09:00.the same gang. The jury were prosecution say they are all part of
:09:01. > :09:07.the same gang. The jury were told that two days after the murder, one
:09:08. > :09:09.of the defendants flew back to his native Holland. The other defendant
:09:10. > :09:13.native Holland. The other ddfendant was arrested in 2011 but not
:09:14. > :09:18.charged. When he found that he was not facing charges, he bought a
:09:19. > :09:19.one`way ticket to Tanzania. He returned voluntarily in July
:09:20. > :09:19.one`way ticket to Tanzania. He returned voluntarily in Julx of last
:09:20. > :09:22.returned voluntarily in July of last year but was arrested at He`throw
:09:23. > :09:26.year but was arrested at Heathrow and charged with the mark. Both say
:09:27. > :09:27.they are not guilty and the case will continue tomorrow.
:09:28. > :09:31.Part of Luton town centre w`s closed to traffic this afternoon
:09:32. > :09:36.The A505 dual carriageway on Stuart Street was closed to allow
:09:37. > :09:41.The accident happened at the Castle Street Roundabout.
:09:42. > :09:44.The cyclist, a man in his late 40s, became trapped underneath the car.
:09:45. > :10:01.His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
:10:02. > :10:04.It's been described as the key to the regeneration
:10:05. > :10:07.The new Corby link road opens in just nine days.
:10:08. > :10:11.With the closure of Solway Foods and the loss of over 900 jobs, the need
:10:12. > :10:14.to attract more companies into the town is more pressing than ever.
:10:15. > :10:18.Today Stuart Ratcliffe became one of the first people to drivd over
:10:19. > :10:22.In its short life, this road has already attracted its fair share of
:10:23. > :10:27.attention. Its first salt was cut already attracted its fair share of
:10:28. > :10:28.attention. Its first salt w`s cut by attention. Its first salt was cut by
:10:29. > :10:30.the transport minister. Then it took centre stage at the Corby
:10:31. > :10:36.by`election. Now it is gearing up by`election. Now it is gearhng up
:10:37. > :10:43.for its key role, to regenerate Corby's economy. It will cldarly
:10:44. > :10:46.encourage business to go into Corby and maintain its regeneration and
:10:47. > :10:49.future prosperity, hopefully, and maintain its regeneration and
:10:50. > :10:54.future prosperity, hopefullx, and growth in the area. The new road
:10:55. > :10:55.links Corby to Kettering. This is where the new road really whll make
:10:56. > :11:01.where the new road really will make a difference. This is home to
:11:02. > :11:07.Corby's euro hope, a large collection of distribution centres.
:11:08. > :11:11.Very shortly, lorries from there will no longer have two trundle down
:11:12. > :11:16.the winding road, but will be able to join this new dual carri`geway
:11:17. > :11:22.taking them to Kettering. The road has cost ?34 million and is just
:11:23. > :11:25.four miles long but is dual carriageway throughout. The current
:11:26. > :11:32.route is nearly six miles long, single carriageway and takes traffic
:11:33. > :11:36.through picturesque villages. It has taken two years to build. With a
:11:37. > :11:40.wash`out summer of 2012 and this winter being one of the wettest on
:11:41. > :11:48.record, at one point this project was behind schedule. It was day by
:11:49. > :11:55.day, are we going to get on, or are we not going to get on? There is
:11:56. > :12:00.still plenty of work to do on site. Contractors say they are now on`time
:12:01. > :12:01.and on budget and the road will be ready for its grand opening on the
:12:02. > :12:05.23rd of May. In football,
:12:06. > :12:07.Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson blamed his side's poor finishing
:12:08. > :12:09.for their League One play`off defeat Posh lost 2`1 ` 3`2 on aggregate `
:12:10. > :12:14.their only goal coming yestdrday from Conor Washington
:12:15. > :12:16.in injury time. Ferguson admitted his side lacked
:12:17. > :12:19.the clinical edge over the two legs. It means a second season in League
:12:20. > :12:23.One for Posh after their relegation Now it's over to Stewart and Susie
:12:24. > :12:39.for the rest of the programme. A five day weather forecast
:12:40. > :12:45.to make you smile. Plus a war`time floral tribtte,
:12:46. > :12:54.inspired by the fields of Flanders. The government has dropped
:12:55. > :12:57.its strongest hint yet that it is taking steps towards upgradhng one
:12:58. > :13:01.of the region's busiest roads. Campaigners welcomed comments
:13:02. > :13:03.at a Parliamentary debate, which could pave the way
:13:04. > :13:08.for dualling of the A47. The road runs from Great Yarmouth
:13:09. > :13:11.through Norfolk and Cambridgeshire to Peterborough and the Midlands,
:13:12. > :13:14.but less than half is dual Today, local MPs raised the state
:13:15. > :13:20.of the road in Parliament and said unless it is improved drivers
:13:21. > :13:40.and businesses will continud to If ministers had an open
:13:41. > :13:44.cheque`book, perhaps the entire stretch of the A47 would be drilled.
:13:45. > :13:49.Realistically, it is not going to Realistically, it is not gohng to
:13:50. > :13:55.happen. That said, the government did these local MPs and said that if
:13:56. > :13:57.you come back in the autumn I made sure you something that will make
:13:58. > :13:59.you smile. For Dennis, an upgrade to the A47
:14:00. > :14:02.can't come soon enough. It would save us a good 30,
:14:03. > :14:06.45 minutes just to get to the A1. His boss runs 23 lorries
:14:07. > :14:10.from his base near King's Lxnn. A dual carriageway would improve
:14:11. > :14:12.fuel economy On single carriageway,
:14:13. > :14:19.our trucks stick to 40mph, It would improve times
:14:20. > :14:27.and efficiency. An all too familiar sight,
:14:28. > :14:30.the sheer weight And so today, local MPs queued up
:14:31. > :14:36.like cars to echo what local An upgrade to this
:14:37. > :14:41.over`crowded road. I suggest that he does make sure he
:14:42. > :14:49.gets it in place for the We will have completed stagd two
:14:50. > :14:55.by the end of July and will be ready to make announcements by thd end
:14:56. > :15:00.of the Autumn Statement. Campaigners say
:15:01. > :15:03.the improvements would, within 20 years, generate 10,00 new
:15:04. > :15:08.jobs and increase economic output From an economic perspectivd
:15:09. > :15:21.that really is quite expensive. The best we can hope
:15:22. > :15:25.for is a section between King's Lynn And perhaps reassure
:15:26. > :15:30.safety campaigners. In Norfolk alone last month,
:15:31. > :15:33.there was one death and fivd You do get instances, appro`ching
:15:34. > :15:41.the end of the dual carriageway, When it goes to single,
:15:42. > :15:51.there can be collisions. It's ended up with
:15:52. > :16:01.fatal consequences. The chancellor outlined in the
:16:02. > :16:08.Autumn Statement how much he would Autumn Statement how much hd would
:16:09. > :16:12.pay towards the day of the road It will come just six months before a
:16:13. > :16:15.general election. The money is not on the table yet.
:16:16. > :16:19.A week tomorrow, people from all over Europe will bd casting
:16:20. > :16:25.Those MEPs will represent half a billion people.
:16:26. > :16:27.In our region, the electorate will include
:16:28. > :16:31.thousands of migrant workers, living and paying their way here.
:16:32. > :16:35.vote in the regional poll, or cast their vote at home.
:16:36. > :16:38.Today, we spoke to members of the Polish community in Petdrborough
:16:39. > :16:50.Joanna has been here for seven years.
:16:51. > :16:57.Britain has given her opportunities Poland never could.
:16:58. > :17:01.One reason why our Euro MPs will get her vote.
:17:02. > :17:04.I think I will vote for the British list.
:17:05. > :17:10.I've lived here for so many years and local matters are more important
:17:11. > :17:18.All EU citizens have the right to vote, either in the country they
:17:19. > :17:21.came from, or where they live now, making potentially rich pickings
:17:22. > :17:28.Figures show that across Peterborough more than
:17:29. > :17:31.125,000 people can vote in the European elections.
:17:32. > :17:37.More than 10,000 have moved here from another European country.
:17:38. > :17:41.But half of those said that rather than vote in their own country, they
:17:42. > :17:47.At Peterborough's Polish ex`servicemen's club,
:17:48. > :17:51.a veteran who settled here after the Second World War says it's vital
:17:52. > :18:06.Isn't it better to achieve the goal of unity?
:18:07. > :18:21.Instead of on the end of a bomb, or by killing people?
:18:22. > :18:31.I can't imagine someone would ask me to leave the country
:18:32. > :18:38.I can't imagine I could be sent back to Poland
:18:39. > :18:46.because I couldn't find myself in the country I used to live!
:18:47. > :18:49.A snapshot of the region's tourism industry has revealed the hhghest
:18:50. > :18:54.The latest quarterly report covering Suffolk and Norfolk shows that firms
:18:55. > :18:57.are reporting more visits to the region, compared to
:18:58. > :19:03.And bookings for the early summer are already well up on last year.
:19:04. > :19:06.And all of that means growing confidence in an industry, which
:19:07. > :19:10.pumps about ?7 billion into the economy of this region everx year.
:19:11. > :19:18.If you're looking for reasons why this region is such
:19:19. > :19:20.a target for tourism, look no further than Lavenh`m
:19:21. > :19:25.in Suffolk ` recently ranked in the top 20 places in the UK to visit.
:19:26. > :19:29.This is Shilling Grange ` where 'Twinkle, Twinkle,
:19:30. > :19:41.The owner has just started ` new B here with his wife.
:19:42. > :19:44.All of our guests come here and spend money,
:19:45. > :19:48.If you keep the village alive, more people come back.
:19:49. > :19:55.It's a ball that's rolling `ll the time.
:19:56. > :19:58.70 miles away on the coast, the holiday giant Warner Leisure
:19:59. > :20:04.Hotels has invested heavily in this complex for the over 50s.
:20:05. > :20:11.A large percentage come back for a second time so we know they like it.
:20:12. > :20:14.Last year we invested ?2.6 million and we want to invest
:20:15. > :20:23.The feel good factor isn't restricted to just a few.
:20:24. > :20:36.The industry is seeing an improvement in positivitx.
:20:37. > :20:44.An increase in customer numbers and spend.
:20:45. > :20:48.Tourism is worth over ?7 billion to East Anglia.
:20:49. > :20:57.In cycling, the spectacle of the women's tour gave this region
:20:58. > :21:03.publicity and the BBC progr`mme Spring Watch should do the same.
:21:04. > :21:07.There is momentum, but to ststain it, we need more investment
:21:08. > :21:22.Think of the First World War and one symbol springs to mind ` the poppy.
:21:23. > :21:24.A wild flower, it grew in Flanders amidst
:21:25. > :21:30.Now a nursery in Norfolk has used those same wild flowers to help
:21:31. > :21:33.the people of Guernsey mark the centenary of the war.
:21:34. > :21:35.They have sent hundreds of plants to the Channel Islands
:21:36. > :21:43.for a special display called the Flowers of Flanders.
:21:44. > :21:45.Linda is passionate about wild flowers.
:21:46. > :21:49.Her company grows two million every year.
:21:50. > :21:52.She was given a brief ` go to Flanders, find the wild
:21:53. > :21:56.flowers of the trenches, grow them and then send them to Guernsey for
:21:57. > :22:03.We've got daisies which are flowering all over
:22:04. > :22:16.We also had others flowering everywhere, and the poppy.
:22:17. > :22:19.Linda's flowers have found ` home in St Peter Port,
:22:20. > :22:26.The display was unveiled at the weekend by the island's governor,
:22:27. > :22:30.in memory of the 2,000 Guernseymen who fought on the Western Front
:22:31. > :22:36.There are buttercups, daisids, thrift and many more.
:22:37. > :22:39.One of the plants we took, Heartsease,
:22:40. > :22:49.Its name suggests it was meant to heal a broken heart.
:22:50. > :22:53.They would have it in posies and grow it in the gardens.
:22:54. > :22:57.Lots of broken hearts during the wars!
:22:58. > :23:01.Numbers of wild flowers are declining.
:23:02. > :23:05.Linda wants her passion to be shared by everyone.
:23:06. > :23:11.You need the plants to have the insects and the birds.
:23:12. > :23:14.It's important that they do know, otherwise they'll grow up
:23:15. > :23:20.Linda's Guernsey displays aren't at their best just yet,
:23:21. > :23:39.A colourful reminder of the flowers of Flanders.
:23:40. > :23:53.This is a beautiful scene. Thank you for the photograph. It was a
:23:54. > :24:00.This is a beautiful scene. Thank you for the photograph. It was ` chilly
:24:01. > :24:08.start to the day. There was a swing in temperatures. 18 Celsius. It is
:24:09. > :24:16.going to continue to warm up during the week. At some point this week,
:24:17. > :24:18.five Freddy, it will look like the week. At some point this week,
:24:19. > :24:19.five Freddy, it will look lhke some five Freddy, it will look lhke some
:24:20. > :24:29.places will record highs of 23 Celsius. The cloud should mhlk away.
:24:30. > :24:37.Celsius. The cloud should milk away. Some chilly temperatures and
:24:38. > :24:39.poisons. Down to 67 Celsius. The temperatures are not expectdd to go
:24:40. > :24:47.temperatures are not expected to go quite as more as last night. It is
:24:48. > :24:51.looking like a warm and bright day. There will be a bit more close
:24:52. > :24:56.around, but enjoy the sunshhne in the morning. The cloud will tend to
:24:57. > :25:03.build`up. When we get the stnshine build`up. When we get the stnshine
:25:04. > :25:10.in the morning it will make things warm up quickly. 17 or 18 ddgrees.
:25:11. > :25:18.warm up quickly. 17 or 18 degrees. In the afternoon at staying dry and
:25:19. > :25:24.warm. It will be a cloudy. Towards the end of the week there is high
:25:25. > :25:33.pressure. It might something is a little cloudy. But it should not
:25:34. > :25:41.spoil the weekend. Before then, someone temperatures. A bit of close
:25:42. > :25:46.building on the afternoon on Saturday. It should be later in the
:25:47. > :25:53.day. Increasing amounts of cloud for Sunday but 31. That sounds lovely.
:25:54. > :26:22.See you tomorrow. Europe. A community of nations
:26:23. > :26:27.which can do no wrong. A perfect brotherhood
:26:28. > :26:30.in which we all share. the benefits are obvious to
:26:31. > :26:35.being in... Hampering a British recovery
:26:36. > :26:42.and harping on about climate change. It's time to get out,
:26:43. > :26:46.it's time to get... It's almost 20 years
:26:47. > :26:50.since we won Eurovision,