Transport and Infrastructure

The national and international transport and infrastructure networks are vital to the economy of the UK.  The Department for Transport’s primary aim is a transport system that balances the need of the economy, the environment and society.

The transport and infrastructure sector can be divided into four main areas which cover the Department’s expenditure on road, rail, air and maritime.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) is responsible for auditing the accounts of the Department for Transport, its executive agencies and several of the non-departmental public bodies it sponsors, and to report the results to Parliament.

Every year, the C&AG presents four to five reports to Parliament which focus on the value for money with which the Department for Transport spends its resources. Of these four to five reports, one or two will focus on public private partnerships employed in the transport and infrastructure sector.

The NAO also examines the systems that underlie the data collection for measuring the progress of the Department against its Public Service Agreement targets.  (See our Fourth Validation Compendium report, volumes one and two for latest details).

The National Audit Office does not examine local transport expenditure directly, as while this is funded in part by the Department for Transport, it is Local Authorities that spend the money, and they are audited by the Audit Commission.

Transport matters in Scotland are audited by Audit Scotland, in Wales the Wales Audit Office, and in Northern Ireland by the Northern Ireland Audit Office.

Features

The Department for Transport: The failure of Metronet

In July 2007 two Metronet companies, set up in 2003 to modernise London Underground’s infrastructure, went into administration.

Read full article: The Department for Transport: The failure of Metronet

Improving road safety for pedestrians and cyclists in Great Britain

In 2007, 2,946 people were killed on Great Britain’s roads. This is 18 per cent less than in the mid-1990s. We have examined whether the Department for Transport is improving safety among pedestrians and cyclists.

Read full article: Improving road safety for pedestrians and cyclists in Great Britain

Shared services in the Department for Transport and its agencies

Corporate services, such as human resources, finance and payroll, are vital in delivering effective and efficient public services that meet citizens’ needs. These activities are usually not highly visible at the front line, but they have a major impact on the quality of public services.

Read full article: Shared services in the Department for Transport and its agencies