Merriman, a vocal supporter of Sunak during the Conservative leadership election, will leave his current role as chair of the Transport Select Committee (TSC) and replace Kevin Foster in the Department for Transport.

The timetable for the election of a new TSC chair – which will be announced by the Speaker of the House of Commons – is expected to come early next week.

Speaking on his new role, Merriman Tweeted: "It’s been a privilege to serve on [TSC] since 2015, and as chair since 2020. It’s sad to be leaving, but I would like to say a big thank you to my fellow members – past and present – and to the committee staff for all of their hard work and support over the past seven years.

"I am delighted to be joining [the DfT] as a minister of state. Thank you to Rishi Sunak for giving me this opportunity."

It comes after the new prime minister moved former transport secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan to the UK Foreign Office as part of his government reshuffle.

Merriman, MP for Bexhill and Battle, spent his time in the role highlighting issues impacting the travel industry  during the pandemic.

Speaking to TTG earlier this year, Merriman described how he was "drawing up a shopping list of proposals" to help the industry work through crises like the Covid-19 pandemic. 

"I’d like to see a rules-based approach so everyone can see how decisions are made and everyone is collectively making them,” he said at the time. The government, he added, had given “warm words” on this, but made no firm commitments.