PM seeks new Transport Secretary

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is looking for a new Transport Secretary after Ruth Kelly resigned from the cabinet to spend more time with her family.

The 40-year-old mother-of-four's replacement will be announced as part of a cabinet reshuffle next week.

Whoever takes the job will face immediate pressure from motoring groups to reduce the tax burden on private drivers, while hauliers will urge help for the freight industry, which has been hit hard by the high price of diesel.

They will also preside over trials of local road pricing schemes, which some fear could lead to a nationwide charging regime.

Other issues under assessment include using motorway hard shoulders and having high-occupancy vehicle lanes to ease road congestion.