David Millward

Minibus and stretch limo drivers spared criminal checks

telegraph.co.uk — While taxi drivers, who are licensed by local authorities, do face scrutiny, the same rules are not applied to those with a licence to drive a Passenger Carrying Vehicle with nine passenger seats or more. This would not apply to "people carriers" which normally have fewer seats, which means their drivers to face criminal record checks.

Taxpayers spend thousands on formal wear for mandarins

telegraph.co.uk — Figures provided to Priti Patel, the Tory MP for Witham in a parliamentary written reply, suggest that Coalition's war on spending has passed some departments by. The biggest beneficiary appears to have been the Ministry of Defence, which has spent £18,616.71 on hiring evening dress over the past five years.

High speed rail could lead to train cuts elsewhere, ministers warned

telegraph.co.uk — The warning from Virgin Trains, the current operator of the West Coast Main Line, is a fresh blow to the flagship project and comes within a week of the National Audit Office - Whitehall's spending watchdog - raising doubts about the viability of the £32.7 billion scheme.

High Speed Rail 2 business case ridiculed by National Audit Office

telegraph.co.uk — "One of the things I've got to do as transport secretary is see how we can benefit other regions in and around those particular areas so they all get a benefit from this. We've got 65 miles of high speed line in this country. When that was built there was huge controversy around it.

Death makes getting HS2 compensation easier

telegraph.co.uk — Three quarters of applicants who have applied to sell their homes to HS2, the company responsible for the £33 billion project, have been turned down under the strict rules of the "exceptional hardship scheme". The tough line taken by HS2 on compensating those living close to the first phase of the route from London to Birmingham, has triggered anger among those who have been turned down.

Brewery town ignored by Highways Agency puts itself back on the map

telegraph.co.uk — Masham, home to 1,235 people and two breweries, was dumped by the Agency when it upgraded the A1, shifting the junction north and abruptly removing the road sign which guided tourists to the picturesque village. The impact of Masham losing its junction and sign was disastrous on local businesses who reported a 30 per cent drop in visitors.