Department for Transport - Definition and Overview

In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the transport network. The department is run by the Secretary of State for Transport, currently Alistair Darling.

The department for transport has been reorganised a number of times in its history, particularly under the current government, being known as or part of:

• 2002- Department for Transport
• 2001-2002: Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions
• 1997-2001: Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
• 1976-1997: Department of Transport
• 1970-1976: Department of 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
• 1919-1941: Ministry of Transport

Current DfT ministers

As at 9th September 2004

• Secretary of State for Transport - The Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP
  • Minister of State - Tony McNulty MP
  • Parliamentary Under-Secretary - David Jamieson MP
  • Parliamentary Under-Secretary - Charlotte Atkins MP (Acting)

Executive agencies

• Air Accident Investigation Branch(AIBB (http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft_index.hcst?n=5161&l=1))
• Driving Standards Agency (DSA) [1] (http://www.dsa.gov.uk)
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) [2] (http://www.dvla.gov.uk)
• Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) [3] (http://www.vca.gov.uk)
• Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) [4] (http://www.vosa.gov.uk)
• Highways Agency (HA) [5] (http://www.highways.gov.uk)
• Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB (http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft_index.hcst?n=5464&l=1))
• Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) [6] (http://www.mcga.gov.uk)
• Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB)

Non-departmental agencies

The DfT sponsors the following agencies:

• The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) [7] (http://www.sra.gov.uk)
• Northern Lighthouse Board [8] (http://www.nlb.org.uk/)
• Trinity House Lighthouse Service [9] (http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/)

External link

• http://www.dft.gov.uk/