Department for Transport

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 24 July 2019) Grant Shapps.

This article is about the UK Department for Transport. For equivalent ministries in other countries, see Ministry of Transport.
Department for Transport
Welsh: Adran am Drafnidiaeth
Department overview
Formed29 May 2002 (2002-05-29)
JurisdictionUnited Kingdom
HeadquartersGreat Minster House, Horseferry Road, London, UK
Annual budget£2.9 billion; 2019-2020 ($3.87 billion) [1]
Minister responsible
Department executive
Child agencies
Websitewww.gov.uk/dft
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History
For list of ministers, see Secretary of State for Transport.

Government control of transport and diverse associated matters has been reorganised a number of times in modern history, being the responsibility of:[2]

  • 1919–1941: Ministry of Transport
  • 1941–1946: Ministry of War Transport, after absorption of Ministry of Shipping
  • 1946–1953: Ministry of Transport
  • 1953–1959: Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation
  • 1959–1970: Ministry of Transport
  • 1970–1976: Department for the Environment
  • 1976–1997: Department of Transport
  • 1997–2001: Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions
  • 2001–2002: Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions
  • 2002–present: Department for 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).

The Flag of the old Ministry of Transport.

Role

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

  • Support the creation of a stronger, cleaner, more productive economy
  • Help to connect people and places, balancing investment across the country
  • Make journeys easier, modern and reliable
  • Make sure transport is safe, secure and sustainable
  • Prepare the transport system for technological progress and a prosperous future outside the EU
  • Promote a culture of efficiency and productivity in everything it does

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]

Ministers

The DfT Ministers are as follows:[5]

Minister Rank Portfolio
The Rt Hon. Grant Shapps MP Secretary of State Overall responsibility for the department; oversight of all areas; Northern Powerhouse.
Chris Heaton-Harris MP Minister of State for Transport rail, East West Rail, cycling and walking, Crossrail and Crossrail 2, accessibility, corporate.
Andrew Stephenson MP Minister of State for Transport HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail, Transpennine route upgrade.
The Rt Hon. Baroness Vere of Norbiton Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport roads and motoring, buses and taxis, devolution, housing, light rail.
Rachel Maclean MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport EU transition and future relationship, future of transport, transport decarbonisation and environment, secondary legislation.
Kelly Tolhurst MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport aviation, maritime, security and civil contingencies, Commons shadow roads.

The Permanent Secretary is Bernadette Kelly.

2017 judicial review

Following a series of strikes, poor performance, removal of 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 Court of Justice.[6][7]

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.[8][9]

Executive agencies

Non-departmental public bodies

The DfT sponsors the following public bodies:

Transport data

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:[10]

Northern Ireland Reserved matters:[11]

The department's devolved counterparts in Northern Ireland are:

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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See also

References
  1. Budget 2018 (PDF). London: HM Treasury. 2018. p. 24. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  2. "Transport Departments". The National Digital Archive of Datasets. The National Archives. 10 January 2008. Archived from the original on 25 October 2005. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  3. DfT Single Departmental Plan 2018
  4. Cabinet Office List of Government Departments and Ministers: Department for Transport
  5. "Our ministers". GOV.UK. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  6. "Commuter group to meet Department for Transport in court over Southern crisis". www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  7. "Judicial Review of the Department for Transport over Southern Rail". CrowdJustice. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  8. https://abcommuters.com/2018/04/17/new-judicial-review-case-starts-today-led-by-passenger-group-bring-back-british-rail/
  9. https://abcommuters.com/2017/07/05/exclusive-full-report-of-abcs-legal-victory-which-forces-chris-grayling-to-decide-southern-rail-breaches/
  10. Scotland Act 1998, Schedule 5, Part II
  11. Northern Ireland Act 1998, Schedule 3
  12. DRD: About The Department
  13. DoE: About Us Archived 8 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine

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