Transport Secretary faces MPs on rail reform, decarbonisation and airport expansion
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander MP will face the Transport Committee for the first time since taking up the post.
Meeting details
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.