Department for Transport The Department for Transport provides leadership across the transport sector to achieve its objectives, working with regional, local and private sector partners to deliver many of the services.
Executive Agencies
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Our primary aims are to facilitate road safety and general law enforcement by maintaining registers of drivers and vehicles, and to collect vehicle excise duty (car tax).
Driving Standards Agency (DSA) DSAs vision is Safe Driving for Life. The overall mission is to contribute to the public service agreement objective to achieve 40% reduction in riders and drivers killed or seriously injured in road accidents, in the age group up to 24 years, by 2010 compared with the average for 1994-98.
Government Car and Despatch Agency Government Cars and Government Mail are the governments own services for moving people and documents safely and reliably throughout the UK.
Highways Agency The Highways Agency is responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the strategic road network in England on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency This Agency is responsible throughout the UK for implementing the Governments maritime safety policy. That includes co-ordinating search and rescue at sea through Her Majestys Coastguard, and checking that ships meet UK and international safety rules.
The Vehicle Certification Agency VCA is the designated UK Vehicle Type Approval authority and with more than 30 years experience supports industry by providing internationally recognised testing and certification for vehicles, their systems and components.
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) provides a range of licensing, testing and enforcement services with the aim of improving the roadworthiness standards of vehicles ensuring the compliance of operators and drivers, and supporting the independent Traffic Commissioners.
Executive and Advisory Non-Departmental Bodies
Committee on Climate Change (CCC) The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) is an independent body established under the Climate Change Act to advise the UK Government on setting carbon budgets, and to report to Parliament on the progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
BRB (Residuary) Ltd Under the 1993 Railways Act, the old British Rail was split up and sold off. By November 1997, British Rail had been divested of all its operating railway functions. The remaining functions of the British Railways Board are now discharged by BRB (Residuary) Ltd. The company is owned by the Government and reports to the Department for Transport.
British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) British Transport Police is the national police force for the railways providing a policing service to rail operators, their staff and passengers throughout England, Wales and Scotland.
Cycling England Cycling England has been charged by the Government to deliver programmes that encourage more people to cycle more safely and more often.
Office of Rail Regulation On 1 April 2006, in addition to our role as economic regulator, ORR became the health and safety regulator for the rail industry when responsibility was transferred from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This transfer of responsibility was given effect in the Railways Act 2005. Follow the left-hand navigation for more about our key roles.
Railway Heritage Committee The Railway Heritage Committee has the function of designating records and artefacts (or classes of record and artefact) which are historically significant and should be permanently preserved.
Traffic Commissioners The eight Traffic Commissioners are appointed by the Secretary of State for the Transport and have responsibility in their area.
Trinity Lighthouse Service The safety of shipping, and the well being of seafarers, have been our prime concerns since Trinity House was granted a Charter by Henry VIII in 1514.
Public Corporations
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) The Civil Aviation Authority is the UK's specialist aviation regulator. Through its skills and expertise it is recognised as a world leader in its field.
Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) The Northern Lighthouse Board's principal concern is with safety: the safety of the mariner at sea; the safety of our own people employed in or around some of the world's most dangerous coastlines; and the safety of environment in which we, and those who come after us, must live and work.
Other links
Cabinet Office The main purpose of the Cabinet Office is to make government work better.