Department for Transport

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
Formed	2002
Jurisdiction	England
Headquarters	Great Minster House, Horseferry Road, London, England
Annual budget	£5.3 billion (current) & £7.7 billion (capital) in 2011-12
Minister responsible	The Rt Hon. Patrick McLoughlin MP, Secretary of State for Transport
Department executive	Philip Rutnam
Child agencies	Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency; Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency; Maritime and Coastguard Agency; Vehicle Certification Agency
Website	www.gov.uk/dft

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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 4 September 2012) Patrick McLoughlin.

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:

• 2002– 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
• 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, 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.

Ministers

The DfT Ministers are as follows:

Minister	Rank	Portfolio
The Rt Hon. Patrick McLoughlin MP	Secretary of State	Overall responsibility, transport security, high-speed rail
Robert Goodwill MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State	High Speed Rail (HS2), Aviation, Europe and International, Maritime, Devolution, cycling and walking
Claire Perry MP	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State	Rail Major project and growth, rail infrastructure, safety and security, passenger services, strategy, funding and sponsorship, integrated delivery and accessibility, rail fares and ticketing
Andrew Jones MP	Parliamentary Under Secretary of State	Northern Powerhouse, including Northern and TransPennine Express franchises, environment, Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), connected vehicles, technology and innovation, freight and logistics, national roads and Highways England, bus policy, local transport, including roads, local majors, and Local Sustainable Transport Fund, city growth deals, smart ticketing, road safety
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon	Parliamentary Under Secretary of State	Aviation security, transport agencies, corporate and better regulation, skills and supply chain, London

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:

• Air transport(Air Passenger Duty will be devolved to Holyrood in due course)
• Marine transport
• Road transport

Northern Ireland Reserved matters:

• 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)
• Department of the Environment (road safety and the regulation of drivers and vehicles)

Wales Under the Welsh devolution settlement, specific policy areas are transferred to the National Assembly for Wales rather than reserved to Westminster.

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

External links

• Official website