Ministerial role

Secretary of State for Transport

Contents

Responsibilities

The Secretary of State has overall responsibility for the policies of the Department for Transport. Responsibilities include:

  • transport strategy, including economic growth and climate change
  • spending review
  • transport security
  • high speed rail

Current role holder: The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin

Patrick McLoughlin was appointed Secretary of State for Transport in September 2012. He was elected the Conservative MP for Derbyshire Dales in 2010.

Education

Patrick studied at Staffordshire College of Agriculture.

Political career

Before becoming an MP in 1986, Patrick sat on Staffordshire County Council from 1981 to 1987 and Cannock Chase District Council between 1980 and 1987.

He has held a number of positions in government, including Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Trade and Industry and Government Whip. In opposition, he served as Chief Whip from 2005 to 2010. He was appointed to the Privy Council in 2005.

He was appointed Chief Whip in the Coalition government in 2010.

Career outside politics

He worked for 5 years in agriculture, before becoming a coal miner at Littleton Colliery in Cannock.

Personal life

Patrick is married with 2 children.

More about this person

Previous holders of this role

  1. The Rt Hon Justine Greening

    • 2011 to 2012

  2. The Rt Hon Philip Hammond

    • 2010 to 2011

Policies

  1. HS2: high speed rail

    • 25 November 2013

  2. Transport security

    • 3 October 2012
View all policies

Announcements

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  1. £7.6 million for local transport in rural and isolated areas

    • 27 March 2015
    • News story

  2. Updated Crossrail 2 route protected from conflicting development

    • 24 March 2015
    • News story

  3. £275 million to improve local roads

    • 24 March 2015
    • News story

  4. Transport Secretary sees plans for investment in Cornwall

    • 23 March 2015
    • News story

  5. HS2 update

    • 23 March 2015
    • Statement to Parliament

  6. Rail franchising: Great Western

    • 23 March 2015
    • Statement to Parliament

  7. New deal for rail passengers in west of England and Wales

    • 23 March 2015
    • News story

  8. More powers for northern authorities to manage rail services

    • 20 March 2015
    • News story

  9. Road investment in the north of England

    • 20 March 2015
    • News story

  10. EU Transport Council 20 March 2015

    • 20 March 2015
    • Statement to Parliament
View all announcements