Labour MP Andrew Bennett has been elected as the chair of the cross-party select committee scrutinising the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).
Bennett was formally co-chair of the Transport Local Government & the Regions select committee, with Gwyneth Dunwoody.
The ODPM took over the regions and local government – including planning policy and building regulations – from the DTLR in May.
The ODPM select committee will cover much the same remit as the former urban affairs sub-committee, which produced a highly critical report on the government’s planning proposals.
Members include Tory Sir Paul Beresford – an environment minister in John Major’s government – and Liberal Democrat Dr John Pugh.
EGi News 23/07/02
