Transport Secretary MP will face the Transport
Committee for the first time since taking up the post.
The cross-party Committee will question the Cabinet Minister on
the range of major reforms the Department for Transport is
undertaking, as well as on wider strategic issues such as
decarbonisation across transport modes and road safety.
There will be questions about preparations to transfer rail
services to the DfT Operator Ltd, establishing Great British
Railways, and the Government's approach to open access on the
railways.
The Committee is likely to ask about the future of the £3 bus
fare cap and whether it will be extended or replaced from
December.
Following announcements on plans to expand a number of airports
across the country, the Committee may ask whether the Government
has a joined up aviation strategy, whether these projects will
really catalyse economic growth, and how they can be compatible
with cutting carbon emissions. The Minister will also be asked to
comment on the recent power outage that closed Heathrow airport
for nearly 24 hours.
Recent changes to the Zero Emissions Vehicles Mandate will be
interrogated, as well as progress with rolling out charging
infrastructure equitably across the country.
Following the Committee's recent report
highlighting accessibility failures across transport modes, there
will be questions on how the Government will ensure improvements
across the sector, as well as on updates regarding long-standing
commitments to strengthen consumer powers for airline passengers,
and pavement parking.
The Committee is also likely to raise questions on Local
Transport Plans, capital investment in infrastructure, developing
a maritime strategy, promoting accessibility, and how DfT and its
arms-length bodies might be impacted by civil service cuts.
Witnesses from 09:15
- Rt. Hon. MP, Secretary of State,
Department for Transport
- Jo Shanmugalingam, Second Permanent Secretary, Department for
Transport
