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Seeking election to the Treasury Select Committee


This week, following the promotion of Michael Fallon MP to BIS, I’m bidding for election by Conservative colleagues to the Treasury Select Committee. I’d like to scrutinise and help the Treasury as it charts a course to reduce the deficit and mend the public finances. I’d also like to continue to challenge the leaders of some of our other key economic institutions, like the Bank of England. As readers of this site will know, I offer strong market principles, familiarity with economic […]

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HS2: FOI rejected for West Coast Main Line peak time loadings


Last December during a Transport Select Committee oral evidence meeting, I asked the Transport Secretary, Justine Greening, a number of questions regarding the refusal of a Freedom of Information request relating to the West Coast Main Line peak time loadings. I wrote to the Transport Secretary as means of a follow up. Here is an extract of the response I received: My written response of 16 December 2011 to the Committee confirmed that, though the Department of Transport has – […]

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Transport Committee report on HS2 released


The Transport Committee’s report into High Speed Rail was released today. You can find it here. I voted against the report. In my view, it is too supportive of the present proposals. In committee, a number of us brought forward and voted for amendments which would have softened the report substantially. Some of these were defeated by just one vote. Full details can be found in the formal minutes at the end of the first volume. I remain concerned that […]

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On hampered markets and free


During the Transport Comittee today, one of the witnesses described the personal injury system as “the free market as it is today”. On closer questioning, it turned out that what passes for a market is hampered by heavy structural interventions and price controls imposed by the state. It occurred to me that the usual action of free markets is to increase quality and quantity, decrease price and improve service. And this in an enquiry on the cost of motor insurance… There […]

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Motion to approve my election to the Transport Committee


Tonight, there is a motion before the House to approve various changes to the select committees, including my election by colleagues to the Transport Committee: The Transport Committee is charged by the House of Commons with scrutiny of the Department for Transport. Its formal remit was to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for Transport and its associated public bodies. The lobbying contacts are already rolling in…

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Transport Committee – UK Parliament


I was delighted this evening to be elected by colleagues to serve on Parliament’s Transport Committee: The Transport Committee is charged by the House of Commons with scrutiny of the Department for Transport. Its formal remit was to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for Transport and its associated public bodies. The Committee’s powers are the same as those for other departmental select committees as set out in Standing Order No.152: principally, to send for persons, papers and […]

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