The government has agreed to a key recommendation made by the Transport Committee and revised its plans for setting up the new rail passengers’ council.
In a letter sent to Committee Chair Ruth Cadbury this week, Rail Minister Lord Hendy revealed that whoever is chosen to be chair of the watchdog will in future have to face the Committee before they are formally appointed.
The Committee first called for pre-appointment scrutiny in its report on the Railways Bill published in February and the policy shift follows a recent exchange of letters between Cadbury and Hendy.
In a letter sent on 20 July, Hendy said the government had decided against the Committee’s recommendation.
In a response sent on 3 September, Cadbury set out why the Committee remained of the view that there is a strong case for it conducting pre-appointment scrutiny.
In his latest letter, dated 12 October, Hendy said he had considered the arguments in Cadbury’s letter and will now pursue adding the chair of the watchdog to the list of posts subject to a pre-appointment hearing by the Committee. The list currently includes the chairs of the Office of Rail and Road and the Civil Aviation Authority.
Transport Committee Chair Ruth Cadbury said: “I’m very pleased that the government has seen sense and finally accepted our recommendation to strengthen the independence of the new rail passengers’ council.
“The Secretary of State has made clear her ambition for the watchdog to be a strong, independent voice for the customer, but so far this rhetoric has not been backed by the necessary action.
“Lord Hendy’s letter indicates that is changing and government will not in future be able to formally put someone in charge before they have been assessed by the Transport Committee.
“This will help ensure that the watchdog is seen to be independent from both the Secretary of State and Great British Railways, and that it delivers for passengers.”
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