Department for Transport
| Department for Transport | |
|---|---|
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| Logo of the Department for Transport | |
| Department overview | |
| Formed | 2002 |
| Jurisdiction | England |
| Headquarters | London, England |
| Annual budget | £5.3 billion (current) & £7.7 billion (capital) in 2011-12 [1] |
| Minister responsible | The Rt Hon. Justine Greening MP, Secretary of State for Transport |
| Website | |
| Department for Transport | |
| United Kingdom | |
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In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport (or DfT) (Welsh: Adran am Drafnidiaeth) is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved. The department is run by the Secretary of State for Transport, currently Justine Greening (since 14 October 2011).
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[edit] History
Government control of transport and diverse associated matters has been reorganised a number of times in modern history,[2] being the responsibility of:
- 2002– Department for Transport
- 2001–2002: Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions
- 1997–2001: Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions
- 1981–1997: Department of Transport
- 1979–1981: Ministry of Transport
- 1976–1979: Department of Transport
- 1970–1976: Department for the Environment
- 1959–1970: Ministry of Transport
- 1953–1959: Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation
- 1945–1953: Ministry of Transport
- 1941–1945: Ministry of War Transport - after absorption of Ministry of Shipping
- 1919–1941: Ministry of Transport
The name "Ministry of Transport" lives on in the annual MOT test, which most vehicles used on public roads in the UK are required to pass once they are three years old (4 years in NI).
[edit] Role
The Department for Transport has four strategic objectives:
- sustain economic growth and improved productivity through reliable and efficient transport networks;
- improve the environmental performance of transport;
- strengthen the safety and security of transport; and
- enhance access to jobs, services and social networks, including for the most disadvantaged people.
The department "creates the strategic framework" for transport services, which are delivered through a wide range of public and private sector bodies including its own executive agencies. [3]
[edit] Ministers
The DfT Ministers are as follows: [3]
| Minister | Rank | Portfolio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Rt Hon. Justine Greening MP | Secretary of State | Overall responsibility, transport security, high speed rail | |
| The Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP | Minister of State | Rail, aviation and London transport | |
| Norman Baker MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State | Buses and taxis, walking and cycling, parking | |
| Mike Penning MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State | Roads, freight and maritime | |
| Key | Conservative | |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrat |
The Permanent Secretary is Lin Homer.
[edit] Executive agencies
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
- Driving Standards Agency (DSA)
- Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA)
- Highways Agency (HA)
- Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
- Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)
- Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)
[edit] Non-departmental public bodies
The DfT sponsors the following public bodies:
- British Transport Police Authority
- Northern Lighthouse Board
- Passenger Focus
- Trinity House Lighthouse Service
[edit] Devolution
The devolution of transport policy varies around the UK; most aspects in Great Britain are decided at Westminster. Key reserved transport matters (i.e. not devolved) are as follows:
Scotland
Reserved matters:[4]
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This section requires expansion. |
Northern Ireland
Reserved matters:[5]
- Civil aviation
- Navigation (including merchant shipping)
The department's devolved counterparts in Northern Ireland are:
- Department for Regional Development (general transport policy, ports, roads and rail) [6]
- Department of the Environment (road safety and the regulation of drivers and vehicles) [7]
Wales
Under the Welsh devolution settlement, specific policy areas are transferred to the National Assembly for Wales rather than reserved to Westminster.
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[edit] See also
- Transport Direct
- Transport Research Laboratory (formerly known as the Road Research Laboratory, then the Transport and Road Research Laboratory); now a privatised company
- United Kingdom budget
- Urban Traffic Management and Control
[edit] References
- ^ Budget 2011. London: HM Treasury. 2011. p. 48. http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_complete.pdf. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
- ^ "Transport Departments". The National Digital Archive of Datasets. The National Archives. 2008-01-10. http://www.ndad.nationalarchives.gov.uk/AH/14/detail.html. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
- ^ a b Cabinet Office List of Government Departments and Ministers: Department for Transport
- ^ Scotland Act 1998, Schedule 5, Part II
- ^ Northern Ireland Act 1998, Schedule 3
- ^ DRD: About The Department
- ^ DoE: About Us
[edit] External links
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