Ellman criticises DfT over delayed West Coast report

Transport Committee chairman Louise Ellman has criticised the Department for Transport (DfT) for ‘adding to the confusion’ over the West Coast franchise after it delayed the release of the Laidlaw report.

An evidence session, which was due to be held today (December 4) over the West Coast Main Line, has had to be postponed in light of a legal challenge against the DfT from one of the suspended civil servants.

MP Louise Ellman said: “I am very disappointed that the government has delayed publication of Sam Laidlaw’s final report into the collapse of the West Coast Main Line franchise competition.

“It was expected that the report would be released last week and, as a result, we arranged to hear oral evidence from Mr Laidlaw and his colleague Ed Smith on December 4.

“Not only has the report not appeared, but the DfT has not had the courtesy to contact us directly about the delay nor explain when this document will be made public. It is regrettable that the DfT should have added to the confusion caused by the abandonment of the West Coast Main Line competition with this episode.

“We have reluctantly decided to postpone the evidence session on the Laidlaw report until Tuesday, December 18 at 10am, by which time the Laidlaw report should be in the public domain.”