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Reshuffle may stall transport progress
Page 7
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By Lindsay Clark THE ROAD FREIGHT industry has warned that progress on infrastructure and fuel duty could stall as a result of the reshuffle within the Department for Transport (DM.
Last week Geoff Hoon (pictured) resigned as transport secretary, while earlier this week, Jim Fitzpatrick, under secretary of state at the DfT, was moved to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Lord Adonis has now been appointed as transport secretary and Sadiq Khan as transport minister following a move from Communities and Local Government.
The Road Haulage Association says a lot of hard work influencing ministers and junior ministers can he lost when the department is reshuffled. "It can be a case of three steps forward and two steps back. It can be very frustrating," says a spokeswoman.
She adds that the most significant issue was getting the government to accept the decoupling of fuel duty: "We have done a lot of work behind the scenes on this." The Freight Transport Association says it is disappointed to see Fitzpatrick leaving the department, but welcomes the internal promotion of Lord Adonis to secretary. "He has shown willing and grasped the rail network [issues]," a spokesman says. "He's a bit of a nerd on infrastructure projects, which is a fantastic asset."
IIII The Humber Bridge Board is currently waiting ministerial approval of its price increases due to the reshuffle. A public inquiry approved the increases necessary for financing the bridge's debt in March. The approval normally takes four to six weeks, but the board had heard nothing from the department as CM went to press.