Developing an integrated transport policy

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Introduction - An Invitation to contribute

1. One of the Government's key commitments in its Manifesto was to develop an integrated transport policy, and it intends to issue a White Paper which will set out its strategy in the UK 1 for the remainder of this Parliament, the next, and beyond. As part of the preparations for that, the Government is undertaking a fundamental review of transport policy 2 . This document invites your ideas and views on the issues which will be considered during the review - we want to hear views on the issues, and on the changes we need, from the people who have to plan, run, use and live with our transport systems.

The Government's Objectives

2. A strong economy, a sustainable environment and an inclusive society. These are the objectives to which the Government aspires. Good communications are central to that improved and lasting quality of life - taking people to and from work; goods from producers to consumers; and our exports and imports to and from our ports, airports and through the Channel Tunnel.

3. The Government is committed to facilitating the mobility of the British people in an economically and environmentally sustainable framework. Britain deserves better than the fragmented and often unacceptable transport services that we have been left with. Nor can we ignore the local or global environmental problems we face - poor air quality, climate change, and increasing pressure on our natural and built environment. To achieve our goals, we believe that we need an effective and integrated transport policy at national, regional and local level, which will provide genuine choice to meet people's transport needs, and which will provide an answer to the problems of congestion and pollution that we face both now and into the future.

1 Separate White Papers or policy statements addressing the specific issues and circumstances in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also be published.

2 A fuller description of the key facts and figures against which this policy review is taking place is available on request from the address on the Further Information page.

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