As the new government gets to grips with its new responsibilities, priorities are being laid out.

The new cabinet is beginning to provide some detail on policy agendas.

Not least the new Transport Secretary Louise Haigh.

Think big

Haigh promises to deliver the most significant overhaul to transport in a generation.

The Secretary of State immediately convened officials to begin work at pace across the department.

The list includes rail reform, further devolution of bus powers, ensuring infrastructure works for the whole country, and supporting local authorities to fix roads for the long term.

Top five

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh’s first address to Department for Transport (DfT) staff set out her five strategic priorities.

She is putting transport at the heart of this mission-driven government, which is essential for moving the economy forward.

These include:

  • improving performance on the railways and driving forward rail reform
  • improving bus services and growing usage across the country
  • transforming infrastructure to work for the whole country, promoting social mobility and tackling regional inequality
  • delivering greener transport
  • better integrating transport networks

Moving the country forward

Getting straight into action, the Transport Secretary’s first official visit focused on plans to deliver better buses in every corner of the country.

This begins a round of engagement with Mayors and devolved leaders who will be key delivery partners.

Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, said:

“It will take all our effort but the new motto of our department – our purpose – is simple: move fast and fix things.

“Our department is so clearly central to achieving the missions for government that the Prime Minister has committed us to.

“Growth, net zero, opportunity, women and girls’ safety, health – none of these can be realised without transport as a key enabler.”

Newness

Haigh said DfT would ‘think about infrastructure and services together at every turn’.

In her address to staff, she also said the department would ‘focus relentlessly’ on improving performance on the railways and introduce ‘much-needed rail reform’.

The newly appointed rail minister, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE, will also bring decades of experience to help realise the government’s ambition of transforming infrastructure and improving public transport to deliver to passengers.

In addition, the Prime Minister has announced the appointment of new ministers to the Department.

These include Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood MP, Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood MP, and Aviation, Maritime, and Security Minister Mike Kane MP.