GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION FOR INTEGRATED TRANSPORT

Introduction

The Committee's report on the work of the Commission for Integrated Transport was published on 8 November 2000. The Government's response to the Committee's conclusions and recommendations that directly affect Government is set out below, referenced to the relevant paragraphs in the Committee's report. The Commission will submit a separate report on the recommendation that relate directly to operations.

Committee's conclusions and recommendations

(5) We recommend that a system be introduced immediately to enable the Government to reply formally to the Commission's reports. The Government should set itself a target of publishing its response within two months of a report being issued by the Commission.

The Government's Response

We agree with this recommendation in respect of CfIT reports that are formally published. With immediate effect we will aim to publish a formal response to such reports within two months.

We will make a judgement on a case by case basis on whether and how to respond to less formal advice received from the Commission and, where appropriate, will refer to CfIT's advice when making policy statements.

(8) Ensuring that CfIT's views are taken into account by other authorities, however, cannot be left to ad hoc meeting or simply by making the commission's Chairman a member of various boards and other bodies. The Commission's relationships with those other organisations charge with delivering the objective of an integrated transport system should be formalised.

The Government's Response

The Commission was established to provide advice to Government on its integrated transport policy. We would expect other organisations involved in the delivery of transport to have regard to published Commission reports and to the advice of the Chairman where appropriate. We will consider, on a case by case basis, how CfIT recommendations, when accepted by Government, should be disseminated, including whether we should amend any formal Government advice.