Huw Merriman has been appointed minister for rail and HS2 in the latest round of appointments by the government under new prime minister Rishi Sunak.
Members of the travel industry had hailed the news Merriman would be given a ministerial brief within the Department of Transport, having been a strong advocate for the sector as the chair of the transport select committee.
However, the detail of his remit had yet to be confirmed and his core role is likely to have limited direct crossover with the outbound travel sector beyond a responsibility for international rail.
The news of his appointment follows confirmation that aviation minister Baroness Vere will be taking responsibility for the maritime sector in addition to aviation.
Other appointments see Jesse Norman become minister for decarbonisation and technology and Richard Holden become minister for roads and local transport.
Business Travel Association chief executive Clive Wratten welcomed the appointments, adding: “Our railways, roads and skies are critical to the growth of global Britain.
“We look forward to working together, alongside Baroness Vere, minister for aviation, maritime and security, to sustainably protect and reinforce our travel infrastructure, boost passenger confidence, and ensure a green future for business travel.”