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11. LORD ADONIS
Page 47
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What's more surprising: that the latest secretary of state for transport is so high on this chart or so low? As head of the Department for Transport, the transport secretary governs key executive agencies like VOSA and the Highways Agency, but to what ends? How much power does the transport secretary really have when the Exchequer rules the roost?
Lord Adonis is the latest in a long line of short-term appointments to the post. Every time a new transport secretary is appointed, the industry has to start from scratch, attempting to educate them in the nuances of road transport.
A few years ago shadow transport minister Theresa Villiers indicated she would be happy to be transport secretary for some time if the Tories win the next election. That being the case, will she wield power more effectively than Lord Adonis and his many predecessors?