Does the Government have a joined up plan for investing in transport? Committee launches new inquiry

• Inquiry: Strategic transport objectives

This inquiry was inspired by proposals that were pitched to the Committee during its Our Future Transport campaign, which saw experts and academics present ideas to the MPs on what subjects they should investigate next.

Building on pitches from Martin Tugwell of Transport for the North and Malcolm Brown of Angel Trains, the inquiry will examine how effectively the Government works across departments to set strategic transport objectives, and how these objectives do — or should — influence decisions on investment in services, networks and infrastructure. 

Future investment planning is mostly done on the basis of individual transport modes or specific programmes, often with local and regional government and arms-length bodies advocating for new infrastructure, revenue funding or powers to support and improve services in their area. Funding for some modes is both short-term and in short supply, with resources often allocated by competition. The Institution of Civil Engineers and the National Infrastructure Commission are among organisations who have recently set out the case for a strategic transport vision at a national level to guide policy and investment decisions. 

MPs will investigate the extent to which the Government takes a long-term, national and multi-modal approach to predicting, providing for, maintaining and developing the country’s transport needs. They will also assess what difference the adoption of clear, national strategic objectives for transport could make. 

Chair comment

Transport Committee Chair Iain Stewart MP said: 

“I am delighted to reveal that one of two inquiries we have launched, following a host of impressive Our Future Transport pitches, will examine the Government’s strategic transport objectives.

“We will ask the overarching question — what are the Government’s strategic objectives for the transport sector and how are they prioritised? From there, we will examine how those objectives do, or should, influence decisions on investment in services, networks and infrastructure. Inspired by the proposals submitted by Transport for the North and Angel Trains, we plan to dig into the extent to which the Government takes a long-term approach to joining up different modes of transport, and works effectively across Whitehall, for the benefit of communities across the whole country. Our own objective will be to recommend changes that help the Government ensure its future plans dovetail and aren’t made in siloes. 

“My colleagues and I are extremely grateful to all those who submitted proposals to us, and especially to the 12 who journeyed to Parliament and pitched to us in person. It was an eye-opening experience that I’m sure will inspire and shape our scrutiny over the rest of this Parliament.” 

Terms of reference

We welcome submissions of written evidence that address any or all of the following themes. We are also interested in receiving submissions that draw on international comparisons to address these questions. Visit the Committee’s website to submit.

Defining objectives 

1. What is your understanding of the Government’s strategic transport objectives? Are they the right ones, and if not, how should they be changed? 
2. How well has the Government articulated the outcomes and objectives it seeks from the country’s transport network? How could this be improved, and what impact would better-defined objectives have on transport planning and investment? 

Using objectives to guide investment 

1. How well does the appraisal and decision-making process for new transport investment meet the Government’s strategic transport objectives? How should this be improved? 
2. How should wider economic, environmental and social impacts be appraised and valued, including when the gains will largely be felt in policy areas other than transport? 
3. How can longer-term certainty in planning be achieved in order to promote greater private sector investment from a range of sources? 

Improving coordination and alignment 

1. How effectively is strategic transport planning and investment coordinated across and between transport modes, including with reference to achieving modal shift? 
2. How could planning for transport infrastructure across government and coordination of policy (for example, with policy on energy, digital or planning) be made more coherent and streamlined? 
3. How effectively is strategic transport planning and investment coordinated between national, devolved, regional and local government and other public bodies? Do the current division and distribution of powers help or hinder? 

Further information

• Transport Committee

Image credit: UK Parliament/Tyler Allicock