Controversial civil servant Sir Richard Mottram was yesterday replaced as the most senior civil servant at the Department of Transport.

The permanent secretary made way for Rachel Lomax, who held the same post at the Department of Work and Pensions under Alistair Darling.

Sir Richard, who hit the headlines when be became publicly embroiled in the spingate affair, takes over Lomax's role as permanent secretary at the welfare department.

Lomax came up through the ranks of the Treasury and has done stints at the Wales Office and the World Bank. She is close to Darling and is seen as one of Whitehall's most able mandarins.