A Bradford MP was today expected to be confirmed as chairman of one of Parliament's most powerful committees.

Terry Rooney has been nominated to head the Work and Pensions Select Committee, which will scrutinise the work of the Whitehall department.

MPs are set to rubber-stamp his appointment by backing a motion in the Commons.

Mr Rooney will use the prestigious post to grill Government ministers, including Work and Pensions David Blunkett, and officials on their handling of controversial policies. The Bradford North MP is eager to lead several investigations on high-profile issues including the planned crackdown on Incapacity Benefit handouts and the current pensions crisis. Recommendations made by the cross-party committee could be taken on board by ministers as they refine new policies.

Mr Rooney, a Labour backbencher who has backed the Government on Iraq, top-up fees and ID cards, was approached by Labour whips to see if he would like the job about a month ago.

He told the T&A: "I've always avoided becoming involved with select committees in the past because they tie you down too much and prevent you doing as much constituency work. But when I was asked I thought about whether I could manage the balance and I decided 'Yes, I'll give it a shot'. It is a good time to chair the committee because there are two big issues to be sorted in the next year or so - Incapacity Benefit and the review of pensions this autumn.

"It is a time when we can have a real influence on Government policy and attempt to shape the debate."

Mr Rooney will replace Liberal Democrat Sir Archy Kirkwood as chairman.

The committee was disbanded in April when Prime Minister Tony Blair called the General Election and Parliament was shut down during the campaign.

Now MPs have returned to Westminster after Labour secured a historic third successive term in power, the committees must be revived.

The political make up of the committees is determined by the proportion of seats each party holds, meaning Labour has less influence because its majority is smaller.

It has fewer chairmen running committees, and fewer MPs sitting on each one. The Tories will have more because they won an extra 47 seats.