Geoff Hoon has been appointed Secretary of State for Transport by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in a Cabinet reshuffle today.

Mr Hoon succeeds transport secretary Ruth Kelly who stood down last week to spend more time with her family.

He is the MP for Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, a constituency he has represented since 1992.

“Appointing a transport secretary with the status and reputation of Geoff Hoon demonstrates that the Labour leadership does take this role seriously,” said John Lewis, director general of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association.

“We hope Mr Hoon can keep up the momentum on improving road safety and that he can provide some clarity on the government’s approach to road pricing.”

Mr Hoon has also served in the Lord Chancellor's Department as Parliamentary Secretary and was promoted to Minister of State in July 1998.

He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in May 1999 as Minister of State with responsibility for Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa; he was then made Minister for Europe on 29th July.