Department for Transport
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| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2002 |
| Jurisdiction | United Kingdom |
| Headquarters | Great Minster House, Horseferry Road, London, UK |
| Annual budget | £5.3 billion (current) & £7.7 billion (capital) in 2011–12 [1] |
| Minister responsible | |
| Department executive |
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| Child agencies | |
| Website | www |
| This article is part of a series on |
| Politics of the United Kingdom |
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The Department for Transport (DfT) is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that have not been devolved. The department is run by the Secretary of State for Transport, currently (since 14 July 2016) Chris Grayling.
History
Government control of transport and diverse associated matters has been reorganised a number of times in modern history, being the responsibility of:[2]
- 2002–present: Department for Transport
- 2001–2002: Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions
- 1997–2001: Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions
- 1976–1997: Department of Transport
- 1970–1976: Department for the Environment
- 1959–1970: Ministry of Transport
- 1953–1959: Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation
- 1946–1953: Ministry of Transport
- 1941–1946: 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, a test of vehicle safety, roadworthiness, and exhaust emissions, which most vehicles used on public roads in the UK are required to pass annually once they reach three years old (four years for vehicles in Northern Ireland).
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]
Ministers
The DfT Ministers are as follows:[3]
| Minister | Rank | Portfolio |
|---|---|---|
| The Rt Hon. Chris Grayling MP | Secretary of State | Overall responsibility for the policies of the Department for Transport.[4] |
| The Rt Hon. John Hayes MP | Minister of State | Highways England, Modern Transport Bill, maritime (including Maritime and Coastguard Agency), maritime security, freight and logistics, environment and technology, skills and innovation, built environment[5] |
| Paul Maynard MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State | Rail (including housing development), rail security, light rail[6] |
| Andrew Jones MP | Parliamentary Under Secretary of State | High-speed rail (HS2), devolution including Northern Powerhouse, motoring agencies, local transport, road and vehicle safety and standards, buses and taxis, traffic management, sustainable accessible travel (including walking and cycling), smart ticketing.[7] |
| Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon | Parliamentary Under Secretary of State | Aviation, international relations and trade, Europe, aviation security, cyber & transport security, London (including Crossrail & Crossrail 2), corporate & better regulation, all transport parliamentary business in the House of Lords.[8] |
The Permanent Secretary has been Philip Rutnam since 11 April 2012.
Executive agencies
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)
- Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
- Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)
Non-departmental public bodies
The DfT sponsors the following public bodies:
- British Transport Police Authority
- Northern Lighthouse Board
- Transport Focus
- Trinity House Lighthouse Service
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:[9]
- Air transport(Air Passenger Duty will be devolved to Holyrood in due course)
- Marine transport
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2010) |
Northern Ireland Reserved matters:[10]
- 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)[11]
- Department of the Environment (road safety and the regulation of drivers and vehicles)[12]
Wales Under the Welsh devolution settlement, specific policy areas are transferred to the National Assembly for Wales rather than reserved to Westminster.
| This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2010) |
See also
- Julie, a public information film of the department's "THINK!" campaign
- 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
- Operator Compliance Support
- Rail transport in Great Britain
References
- ^ Budget 2011 (PDF). London: HM Treasury. 2011. p. 48. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
- ^ "Transport Departments". The National Digital Archive of Datasets. The National Archives. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
- ^ a b Cabinet Office List of Government Departments and Ministers: Department for Transport
- ^ "The Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP". gov.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- ^ "The Rt Hon John Hayes MP". gov.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- ^ "Paul Maynard MP". gov.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- ^ "Andrew Jones MP". gov.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- ^ "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon". gov.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- ^ Scotland Act 1998, Schedule 5, Part II
- ^ Northern Ireland Act 1998, Schedule 3
- ^ DRD: About The Department
- ^ DoE: About Us
External links
Headquarters: Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London | |
| Ministers | |
| Non-ministerial department | |
| Executive agencies | |
| Non-departmental public bodies | |
| Public corporations | |
| Other | |
| Former public bodies and organisations | |
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