Aviation returns to the Commons

In one of his first moves since being appointed, secretary of state for transport, Grant Shapps has added a new aviation minister to his team, sitting in the House of Commons.

Paul Maynard was appointed Parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Transport (DfT) last week with aviation, including Heathrow expansion, as one of his responsibilities.

A spokesman for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on general aviation said: “In our opinion, this is a big change as it brings aviation back into the Commons, which is subject to a greater level of media scrutiny than the Lords.”

Maynard, who was previously Parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Ministry of Justice, was elected Conservative MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys in May 2010 after working as a political adviser and speechwriter.

In addition to the aviation portfolio, he will have responsibility for Northern Powerhouse Rail, HS2, the TransPennine route upgrade, Crossrail and East West Rail.

www.gov.uk/government/people/paul-maynard

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

Alan Dron, London

I fear that if Mr Maynard has hot potatoes such as HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and Crossrail on his desk, aviation isn't going to get much of his time.