Department for Transport

Last updated

Department for Transport
Department for Transport.svg
Department overview
Formed29 May 2002;21 years ago (2002-05-29)
Jurisdiction Government of the United Kingdom
HeadquartersGreat Minster House, Horseferry Road, London
Annual budget£2.9 billion; 2019–20 [1]
Secretary of State responsible
Department executives
Child agencies
Website gov.uk/dft OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Department for Transport (DfT) is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is 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 25 October 2022), Mark Harper.

Contents

The expenditure, administration, and policy of the Department of Transport are scrutinised by the Transport Committee. [2]

Responsibilities

The Department for Transport has six strategic objectives: [3]

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. [4]

Executive agencies

Non-departmental public bodies

The DfT sponsors the following public bodies:

Transport publications and data

DfT publications include the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges and Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG, formerly WebTAG). [5]

The DfT maintains datasets including the National Trip End Model and traffic counts on major roads.

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: [6]

Scotland's comparability factor (the proportion of spending in this area devolved to the Scottish Government) was 91.7% for 2021/22. [7]

Northern Ireland Reserved matters: [8]

The department's devolved counterparts in Northern Ireland are:

Northern Ireland's comparability factor (the proportion of spending in this area devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive) was 95.4% for 2021/22. [7]

Wales Reserved matters: [11]

The department's devolved counterpart in Wales is the Minister for Climate Change. [12]

Wales' comparability factor (the proportion of spending in this area devolved to the Welsh Government) was 36.6% for 2021/22. [7] This represents a significant reduction (e.g. it was 80.9% in 2015) due to the controversial classification of HS2 as an 'England and Wales' project. [13]

History

Ministry of Transport Act 1919
Act of Parliament
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (1901-1952).svg
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title An Act to establish a Ministry of Transport and for purposes connected therewith.
Citation 9 & 10 Geo. 5. c. 50
Dates
Royal assent 15 August 1919
Status: Partially repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Ministry of Transport Act 1919 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Ministry of Transport was established by the Ministry of Transport Act 1919 which provided for the transfer to the new ministry of powers and duties of any government department in respect of railways, light railways, tramways, canals and inland waterways, roads, bridges and ferries, and vehicles and traffic thereon, harbours, docks and piers.

In September 1919, all the powers of the Road Board, the Ministry of Health, and the Board of Trade in respect of transport, were transferred to the new ministry. Initially, the department was organised to carry out supervisory, development and executive functions, but the end of railway and canal control by 1921, and the settlement of financial agreements relating to the wartime operations of the railways reduced its role. In 1923, the department was reorganised into three major sections: Secretarial, Finance and Roads.

The ministry's functions were exercised initially throughout the United Kingdom. An Irish Branch was established in 1920, but then was taken over by the government of the Irish Free State on the transfer of functions in 1922.

The department took over transport functions of Scottish departments in the same year, though certain functions relating to local government, loan sanction, byelaws and housing were excepted. In May 1937, power to make provisional orders for harbour, pier and ferry works was transferred to the Secretary of State for Scotland.

The growth of road transport increased the responsibilities of the ministry, and in the 1930s, and especially with defence preparations preceding the outbreak of war, government responsibilities for all means of transport increased significantly.

Government control of transport and diverse associated matters has been reorganised a number of times in modern history, being the responsibility of:

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).

The flag of the old Ministry of Transport MoT-Flag.svg
The flag of the old Ministry of Transport

2017 judicial review

Following a series of strikes, poor performance, concerns over access for the disabled and commuter protests relating to Govia Thameslink Railway a group of commuters crowdfunded £26,000 to initiate a judicial review into the Department for Transport's management and failure to penalise Govia or remove the management contract. The oral hearing to determine if commuters have standing to bring a judicial review was listed for 29 June 2017 at the Royal Courts of Justice. [14] [15]

The attempted judicial review was not allowed to proceed, and the commuters who brought it had to pay £17,000 in costs to the Department for Transport. [16] [17]

Ministers

The DfT Ministers are as follows, with cabinet ministers in bold: [18]

MinisterPortraitPositionPortfolio
The Rt Hon. Mark Harper MP Mark Harper Official Cabinet Portrait, October 2022 (cropped).jpg Secretary of State for Transport Overall responsibility for the department; oversight of all areas
Huw Merriman MP Official portrait of Huw Merriman MP crop 2.jpg Minister of State for Rail and HS2 Rail transformation and reform; rail infrastructure; High Speed 2 (HS2); Integrated Rail Plan; Northern Powerhouse Rail; international rail; rail passenger services and freight; accessibility
The Rt Hon. Anthony Browne MP Official portrait of Anthony Browne MP crop 2.jpg Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Decarbonisation and Technology Aviation; transport decarbonisation; air quality; technology, (including autonomous vehicles, drones, e-scooters); space; skills, science and research; corporate (including public appointments); aviation accessibility.
The Rt Hon. Lord Davies of Gower Official portrait of Lord Davies of Gower crop 2.jpg Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Maritime and Security Primary legislation in the Lords; maritime; security (including Ukraine); civil contingencies; international; union connectivity; secondary legislation (including retained EU law); maritime accessibility.
Guy Opperman MP Official portrait of Guy Opperman crop 2.jpg Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Roads and Local Transport roads maintenance and infrastructure delivery (including National Highways); road safety; motoring agencies (DVLA, DVSA, VCA); local transport including buses, taxis, light rail; active travel (cycling and walking); Kent including BROCK, TAP; EES and borders; haulage; Future of Freight; women’s safety; accessibility (cross-cutting lead as Ministerial Disability Champion).

The Permanent Secretary is Dame Bernadette Kelly.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in the United Kingdom</span> Overview of the transport in the United Kingdom

Transport in the United Kingdom is highly facilitated by road, rail, air and water networks. Transport is a devolved matter with each of the countries of the United Kingdom having separate systems under separate governments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)</span> British train operating company

Southern is the brand name used by the Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) train operating company on the Southern routes of the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise in England. It is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead and Keolis, and has operated the South Central franchise since August 2001 and the Gatwick Express service since June 2008. When the passenger rail franchise was subsumed into GTR, Southern was split from Gatwick Express and the two became separate brands, alongside the Thameslink and Great Northern brands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Home Office</span> Ministerial department of the UK Government

The Home Office (HO), also known as the Home Department, is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for immigration, security, and law and order. As such, it is responsible for policing in England and Wales, fire and rescue services in England, Border Force, visas and immigration, and the Security Service (MI5). It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs, counterterrorism, and immigration. It was formerly responsible for His Majesty's Prison Service and the National Probation Service, but these have been transferred to the Ministry of Justice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department for Culture, Media and Sport</span> Ministerial department of the UK Government

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It holds the responsibility for culture and sport in England, and some aspects of the media throughout the UK, such as broadcasting. Its main offices are at 100 Parliament Street, occupying part of the building known as Government Offices Great George Street.

There are effectively two separate mainline railway systems in the United Kingdom – the Great Britain system and the Northern Ireland system, which are regulated and operated separately, and are constituted under separate pieces of United Kingdom legislation.

A train operating company (TOC) is the term used on the railway system of Great Britain for a railway undertaking operating passenger trains under the collective National Rail brand. TOCs have existed since the privatisation of the network under the Railways Act 1993.

The Go-Ahead Group Limited is a passenger transport company based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The majority of its operations are within the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Singapore, and Norway. Go-Ahead was formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange prior to being purchased by Kinetic Group and Globalvia by 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in England</span> Overview of transport in England

England has a dense, multimodal transportation infrastructure. The Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the transport network in England. The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible to Parliament for the Department for Transport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Scotland</span> Overview of the transport system in Scotland

The transport system in Scotland is generally well-developed. The Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament has control over most elements of transport policy within Scotland, with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition holding portfolio responsibility within the Scottish Government. Transport Scotland is the Executive Agency responsible for the Scottish transport network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devolved, reserved and excepted matters</span> UK public policy areas

In the United Kingdom, devolved matters are the areas of public policy where the Parliament of the United Kingdom has devolved its legislative power to the national legislatures of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, while reserved matters and excepted matters are the areas where the UK Parliament retains exclusive power to legislate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department for the Economy</span> Northern Irish government department

The Department for the Economy is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall responsibility for the department is the Minister for the Economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland)</span> Northern Irish government department

The Department for Infrastructure is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passenger rail franchising in Great Britain</span> Outsourcing of rail transport

Passenger rail franchising in Great Britain is the system of contracting the operation of the passenger services on the railways of Great Britain to private companies, which has been in effect since 1996 and was greatly altered in 2020, with rail franchising being effectively abolished in May 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department for Business, Innovation and Skills</span> Defunct ministerial department of the government of the United Kingdom

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) was a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It was created by the Gordon Brown premiership on 5 June 2009 by the merger of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. It was disbanded by the Rishi Sunak premiership on the creation of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 14 July 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Transport (Malaysia)</span>

The Ministry of Transport, abbreviated MOT, is a ministry of the Government of Malaysia that is responsible for transport: road transport, civil aviation, road safety, port authority, maritime, air accident investigation, logistic and maritime safety. The ministry is headquartered in Putrajaya.

The Association of British Commuters (ABC) is a UK passenger lobby group for people who commute. It was formed in September 2016 by a group of passengers, disaffected by Govia Thameslink Railway's service on the Southern routes of the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise, after months of delays, cancellations, overcrowded conditions, and strikes.

An operator of last resort is a business in the United Kingdom that operates a railway franchise, on behalf of the government, when a train operating company is no longer able to do so. Since May 2023, there are six such operators in England, Wales and Scotland.

Great British Railways (GBR) is a proposed state-owned public body that is to oversee rail transport in Great Britain except for Transport for London, Merseytravel, light rail and tram services. It is to assume most rail functions of the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Rail Delivery Group, including procuring services and setting fares. In addition, it is to absorb Network Rail to become the operator of most rail infrastructure across Great Britain. It will not affect the existing powers of the UK's devolved administrations in their areas.

References

  1. ↑ Budget 2018 (PDF). London: HM Treasury. 2018. p. 24. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  2. ↑ "Role - Transport Committee". parliament.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2022. The Transport Committee is charged by the House of Commons with scrutiny of the Department for Transport. Its formal remit is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for Transport and its associated public bodies.
  3. ↑ "Department for Transport Outcome Delivery Plan". GOV.UK.
  4. ↑ "Department for Transport". GOV.UK. 11 April 2024.
  5. ↑ "Transport analysis guidance". GOV.UK. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "Scotland Act 1998".
  7. 1 2 3 "The Barnett Formula, House of Commons Library brief" (PDF). www.parliament.uk.
  8. ↑ "Northern Ireland Act 1998".
  9. ↑ "DRD: About The Department". Archived from the original on 29 April 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  10. ↑ DoE: About Us Archived 8 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ Government of Wales Act 2006, Schedule 7A, Part II
  12. ↑ "Welsh Government profile of Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change". gov.wales. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  13. ↑ "HS2: Wales should get £5bn from rail scheme spending, says minister". BBC News. 12 February 2020.
  14. ↑ "Commuter group to meet Department for Transport in court over Southern crisis". www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  15. ↑ "Judicial Review of the Department for Transport over Southern Rail". CrowdJustice. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  16. ↑ "New Judicial Review case starts today – led by passenger group Bring Back British Rail" (Press release). www.abcommuters.com. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  17. ↑ "Exclusive: Full report of ABC's legal victory, which forces Chris Grayling to decide Southern Rail breaches" (Press release). www.abcommuters.com. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  18. ↑ "Our ministers". GOV.UK. Retrieved 3 November 2022.

51°29′41″N0°07′45″W / 51.4946°N 0.1293°W / 51.4946; -0.1293

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.