Select committee ends interest in Bombardier decision

The Transport Select Committee has said it will not look any further at a decision to deny Derby train maker Bombardier the Thameslink contract.

The transport minister and Bombardier bosses attended a hearing in September after the government picked Siemens as its preferred bidder.

However now the committee has decided against considering the matter further.

The firm's hopes of forcing a U-turn now lie with a possible National Audit Office report or a judicial review.

Labour MP Louise Ellman, chairman of the committee, said the hearing had been useful in raising concerns about the procurement process which led to Bombardier losing the £1.4bn deal.

She added Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond had told the hearing he would help find other work for the train maker.

Select committees have no direct powers to force a rethink but are considered very influential.

The National Audit Office is still considering whether to carry out a full review into the deal and Derby City Council is working with union Unite on a possible judicial review.

Bombardier announced 1,400 job cuts in the wake of the decision and is still considering the future of its Litchurch Lane plant.