Historic question time for Adonis

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Lord Adonis has been grilled by peers in the first of a series of new sessions in which cabinet ministers who sit in the Lords will be questioned.

The transport secretary faced questions on concessionary bus fares, aviation's contribution to climate change and the satisfaction of railway passengers.

The 15-minute "question time" will take place twice a month with Lord Mandelson due to appear next week.

It is designed to give peers more chance to ask topical questions.

However, in Thursday's session, Lord Adonis was not asked about what the government was doing to keep the transport network running during the current cold snap.

Lord Adonis and Lord Mandelson regularly answer questions in the Lords but will be required to take part in these new sessions and cannot field junior ministers in their place.

Before the session began, Labour leader in the Lords, Baroness Royall, asked peers and the minister to be as "concise" as possible to allow as many members as possible to contribute.

Among those who asked questions were Shadow Transport minister Baroness Hanham and former British Rail executive Lord Bradshaw.

A Lords spokesman said the innovation was designed to allow "people with real expertise" to question ministers.

Among other innovations being considered to improve Parliamentary scrutiny of government are plans to allow cabinet ministers who sit in the Lords to be questioned by MPs in the Commons.

Commons Speaker John Bercow has backed the idea but questions remain over how it would work in practice.