Fares, rail policy and DfT news

Lilian Greenwood named new Transport Select Committee chair

Lilian Greenwood has been narrowly elected as the new chair of the Transport Select Committee in the House of Commons.

The MP for Nottingham South fought off competition from four Labour party colleagues – Geraint Davies, Clive Efford, Bridget Phillipson and Gavin Shuker to be given the title.

She will take over the position from Louise Ellman, who served as chair in the previous Parliament.

The vote, which is conducted using the alternative vote system, saw Greenwood win the final voting round against Phillipson by 233 to 225.

“The Department for Transport needs effective and fairhanded scrutiny,” Greenwood stated. “In the months and years ahead, I hope the committee will take a closer look at the transport issues that impact all areas of the UK, rural and urban.

“Decisions on Heathrow, HS3 and Crossrail 2 are now seriously overdue. Cross-border issues in the devolved nations remain unresolved.

“There are serious doubts over the ability of Highways England and Network Rail to deliver road and rail investment schemes, and there is already pressure from the Treasury to rein back on existing commitments.”

Very proud to be elected Chair of @CommonsTrans esp in such a strong field of @UKLabour candidates. @LouiseEllman a tough act to follow! pic.twitter.com/kJAuPE089F

— Lilian Greenwood (@LilianGreenwood) July 12, 2017

The new chair added that the committee would have an important role in challenging the government to keep pace with new technology.

“I have considerable experience of working with MPs from all parties on transport issues,” she continued. “I am delighted to have been elected to this important post and look forward to meeting colleagues and creating a collegiate but challenging committee."

The results for contested elections for the other committee chair positions were as follows:

• Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy(Labour) - Rachel Reeves
• Communities and Local Government(Labour) - Clive Betts
• Defence(Conservative) - Dr Julian Lewis
• Education(Conservative) - Robert Halfon
• Environment, Food and Rural Affairs(Conservative) - Neil Parish
• Foreign Affairs(Conservative) - Tom Tugendhat
• Northern Ireland Affairs(Conservative) - Dr Andrew Murrison
• Science and Technology(Liberal Democrat) - Norman Lamb
• Transport(Labour) - Lilian Greenwood
• Treasury(Conservative) - Nicky Morgan

And for committees where no election was necessary the results were:

• Culture, Media and Sport(Conservative) - Damian Collins
• Exiting the EU(Labour) – Hilary Benn
• Health(Conservative) – Dr Sarah Wollaston
• Home Affairs(Labour) – Yvette Cooper
• International Development(Labour) – Stephen Twigg
• International Trade(Scottish National Party) – Angus Brendan MacNeil
• Justice(Conservative) – Robert Neill
• Scottish Affairs(Scottish National Party) – Pete Wishart
• Welsh Affairs(Conservative) – David T C Davies
• Women and Equalities(Conservative) – Mrs Maria Miller
• Work and Pensions(Labour) – Frank Field

And other specified committee results were:

• Environmental Audit(Labour) – Mary Creagh
• Petitions(Labour) – Helen Jones
• Procedure(Conservative) – Mr Charles Walker
• Public Accounts(Labour) – Meg Hillier
• Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs(Conservative) – Mr Bernard Jenkin
• Standards(Labour) - Sir Kevin Barron