Department details

The Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) was formed in 1997 by a merger of the Departments of Environment and Transport. The reason for the merger was to ensure greater coherence and a more integrated approach to policy on the environment, transport and regional affairs. The Department was responsible for environmental protection, roads, planning, local transport, housing, construction, regeneration, the countryside, water, railways, aviation, shipping, and local and regional government. In 2001 DETR changed to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR). The DTLR adopted the same responsibilities as DETR with the exception of the environment, which was moved in 2001 to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). For additional information, please see the Administrative History for Environment Departments.

Further reorganisation was brought about by the creation of a dedicated Department for Transport (DfT) aimed at streamlining the operation of the transport brief. As of May 2002, the DfT has sole responsibility for transport. Most of the responsibilities of the former DTLR were brought into the newly created Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), also established in May 2002. The ODPM took over responsibility from the DTLR for policy on housing, planning, devolution, regional and local government and the fire service. It also resumed core responsibility for the Social Exclusion Unit, the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit and the Government Offices for the Regions. The DTLR's former responsibility for the Electoral Commission and for policy on electoral law, referendums and party funding were transferred to the Lord Chancellor's Department. In May 2006 ODPM was replaced by the Department for Communities and Local Government which retained the majority of its predecessor's functions.1

Environmental protection

From 1997 - 2001, the Environmental Protection Group of the DETR was responsible for the formulation of environmental policy, environmental protection, water policy and energy policy. As of 2001, DEFRA was subsequently assigned responsibility for all aspects of the environment which have now been integrated with rural matters, farming and food production. For further information, please see the Administrative History for Environment Departments.

Environmental concern prior to the mid 19th century is reflected in local authority bylaws relating to public health, nuisances and buildings. The Public Health Act 1848 established a General Board of Health with powers to set up local health boards where necessary to deal with sanitation, sewerage, drainage, water supply, streets, burial grounds and regulation of offensive trades. The Act did not apply to London, where separate legislation authorised the appointment of metropolitan commissioners of sewers and later the Metropolitan Board of Works. The General Board of Health expired in 1858 and its responsibilities were passed to local authorities and various departments of central government. The Local Government Board was established in 1871 following the recommendation of the Royal Sanitary Commission that a single authority take responsibility for public health functions. It acquired responsibility for supervision of baths and wash houses, town improvement approvals, housing of the working classes, burial grounds (from the Home Office), prevention of diseases, vaccination and control of dairies (from the medical departments of the Privy Council), powers of consent regarding borrowing under the Baths and Wash Houses Acts 1872 (from the Treasury), and functions under the Metropolitan Water Acts 1852 and 1871 (from the Board of Trade). The Board was dissolved in 1919 and its public health functions passed to the environmental departments of the new Ministry of Health.

The establishment of a Department of the Environment in 1970 originated from the desire of government to co-ordinate policy relating to environmental matters. In 1969 a Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning was appointed to harmonize the work of the Ministries of Housing and Local Government and Transport, with special responsibilities for regional planning and environmental pollution. In 1970 the Department of the Environment was formed by the merger of the Ministries of Transport, Housing and Local Government, and Public Buildings and Works.

Local and regional government and planning

Between 1997 - 2001, the formulation of local and regional government policy was the responsibility of the Local and Regional Government Group of the DETR. The succeeding agency, DTLR, consequently took over similar functions for a brief period until further administrative changes were implemented in May 2002. Thereafter, powers regarding the formulation of local and regional government policy were to reside with the ODPM. Under the ODPM, the Government Offices for the Regions (GOs) and their corporate centre, the Regional Co-ordination Unit (RCU), implement crosscutting initiatives and advise Departments on successful implementation strategies at regional and local level.

Local and regional government

Until the reforms of the late 19th century local public services were administered by specialised bodies with separate constitutions, subject to varying degrees of supervision by a number of departments of central government. In particular the Home Office had general responsibility for local government supervision, and had particular powers in connection with town improvement, housing, highways, turnpike trusts, public health and local taxation. In 1871 a Royal Sanitary Commission recommended the codification of existing legislation and the formation of a single authority for public health purposes in every locality. The resulting Local Government Board Act 1871 provided for the merger of the Local Government Act Office of the Home Office with the Medical Department of the Privy Council Office to form a single Board with primary responsibility for local government services. In 1873 the Board of Trade's functions under the Metropolitan Water Acts 1852 and 1871 were passed to the new Board, which later increased its powers regarding housing and town planning. In 1919 the Board was dissolved and its planning and local government functions passed to the new Ministry of Health. In 1942 the Ministry's statutory planning functions were transferred to the Ministry of Works and Planning, itself replaced in 1943 by a Ministry of Town and Country Planning. In 1951 a Ministry of Local Government and Planning was formed by a merger of the Ministry of Town and Country Planning with the local government and environmental health divisions of the Ministry of Health. In November of the same year the name was changed to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.

The Local Government Act 1972 introduced a major reform of local government in England and Wales which came into effect on 1 April 1974. It introduced a pattern of two-tier metropolitan and non-metropolitan county and district councils which remains in use today in large parts of England. However, the Metropolitan County Councils were abolished in 1986 and unitary local authorities replaced the two-tier system in many areas in the 1990s. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBC) was appointed in November 1972 under the 1972 Act. The Act also provided for the establishment of a separate commission for Wales. The function of both commissions was to review the electoral arrangements within the new counties, including boundaries, at all administrative levels. Sections 48 to 52 of the 1972 Act required the LGBC to review in England (including London) particular local government boundaries at any time and to conduct a general review of all boundaries, including internal electoral boundaries, every ten to fifteen years. The English Commission was abolished in 1992 and replaced by a new Local Government Commission.

Planning

National town and country planning developed largely from the public health legislation of the 19th century. From 1871 the Local Government Board, established in that year, acted as a central planning authority, supervising local authority planning schemes through its Housing and Town Planning Department; this function was passed to the Ministry of Health in 1919. In 1942 the Ministry of Health's statutory planning functions were transferred to the Ministry of Works and Planning, which was replaced in 1943 by a Ministry of Town and Country Planning. The new Ministry was also given responsibility for framing a national policy for land use and development. The New Towns Act 1946 gave the Ministry power to establish new towns; and the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 gave it powers over a new Central Land Board, which was established to assess and levy development charges on new land developments, and to acquire land and dispose of it for development. The Board was dissolved in 1959 and its functions passed to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. In 1967 a new Land Commission was established with powers to levy charges on the development of land. In 1971 this in turn was dissolved and its residual powers passed to the Department of the Environment.

From 1997 - 2001, an executive agency, the Planning Inspectorate, operated on behalf of the DETR on appeals and other casework relating to planning and development. In turn - after a brief period of administration under the DTLR (2001 - May 2002) - the Planning Inspectorate of the ODPM is currently dealing with the processing of planning and enforcement appeals, holding inquiries into local development plans and other planning related casework.

Housing, Construction, Regeneration and the Countryside

From 1997 until 2001, these functions were the responsibility of the Housing, Construction, Regeneration and Countryside Group within the DETR. Following a short period of administration under the DTLR (2001 - May 2002), the ODPM has now been assigned responsibility for these key functions.

Housing

Before 1905 supervision of housing conditions was the concern of the Sanitary Departments of the Home Office under various Public Health Acts. The Housing of the Working Classes Act 1890 extended the powers of local authorities to plan housing improvement and planning schemes; plans were submitted to the Local Government Board. The Housing Acts of 1905 extended to the Home Office supervision of local funds and housing schemes. In 1905 these duties were transferred to the Local Government Board. The Housing Act 1909 was the first act to allow local authorities to draw up planning schemes for new housing. In 1951 the Ministry of Housing and Local Government was created.

Construction and regeneration

An Office of Works was created prior to 1660 as part of a process of centralisation in the organisation of the King's works, by which responsibility for royal buildings was gradually transferred from local officials to a number of permanent central government officers with administrative control for most royal buildings; this was later extended to some non-royal public buildings. In 1660 an Office of Works was officially established. In 1832 it was consolidated with the Office of Woods, Forests and Land Revenues to become the Works Department. In 1851 it was again renamed the Office of Works and placed under the control of a first Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings. The Board of Works constituted a corporation for each statute under which the Commissioners of woods, forests, land revenues, works and buildings had been empowered to act. In 1940 the department was renamed the Ministry of Works and Buildings. In 1942 the statutory planning powers formerly belonging to the Ministry of Health were passed to the department, bringing together all physical planning policy for England and Wales under the renamed Ministry of Works and Planning. The planning function was removed in 1943 to the Ministry of Town and Country Planning and the department renamed the Ministry of Works; its primary concern would now be the construction of post-war buildings and research into new building methods and policies. In 1962 the department was reconstituted as the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works, with additional responsibility for studying the problems of the building industry, especially the balance between house building and other building. Some of these functions overlapped with those of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government; the two departments were therefore integrated, along with the Ministry of Transport, into a new Department of the Environment in 1970.

For the government function of 'regeneration', also see English Partnerships within the 'Subdivisions' section of this Administrative history.

Countryside

Surveyors general of crown lands and of woods existed from 1554. The Departments of Woods and Forests and of Land Revenues were united by the Crown Lands Act 1810 to form the Office of Woods, Forests and Land Revenues. Interest in nature conservancy and improvement of access to the countryside grew during the 19th and early 20th centuries, and in 1947 a National Parks Commission was established. In 1968 it was replaced by the Countryside Commission.

Roads and transport

These functions were previously the responsibility of the Planning Roads and Local Transport Group of the DETR from 1997 - 2001. Following a brief period of administration under the DTLR (2001 - May 2002), the Department for Transport is now responsible for all matters directly relating to the transport portfolio.

Roads

Responsibility for public highways, turnpike trusts and bridges was initially vested in the Home Office, which also had responsibility for preparation of parliamentary returns relating to roads. In 1872 these functions were passed to the newly created Local Government Board. In 1884 the Board's road functions passed to local highways boards. A distinct Roads Department, with responsibilities for the licensing and inspection of vehicles and for the supervision of road development plans, was finally created in 1919 by the Ministry of Transport Act.

Between 1997 - 2001, the executive agencies responsible to the DETR for vehicle standards and licensing included: the Driving Standards Agency; the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency; the Vehicle Certification Agency; and the Vehicle Inspectorate. The Highways Agency was responsible for maintenance of major roads. The above executive agencies were eventually brought under the direct authority and control of the current Department for Transport.

Transport

A Ministry of Transport was first established by the Ministry of Transport Act 1919. The Act provided for the transfer to the new Ministry of powers and duties of any government department in respect of highways (from the Local Government Board), light railways (from the Board of Trade), tramways, canals and inland waterways, roads, bridges and ferries, vehicles and traffic thereon, harbours, docks and piers. Its structure remained essentially unchanged until 1970, except for the addition of responsibility (from the defunct Ministry of Civil Aviation) for aviation from 1953-1959. In 1970 it was merged into the newly constituted Department of the Environment (the transport function was returned to a reconstituted Department of Transport in 1976).

Railways, aviation and shipping

These functions, previously administered by the DETR (1997-2001) and DTLR (2001- May 2002), are currently the responsibility of railways, aviation and shipping divisions and directorates within the DfT.

Railways

Responsibility for supervising railways belonged to the Board of Trade until the establishment of a Railway Departments Board under the Railways Regulation Act 1840. In 1919 the Ministry of Transport took over the Board's functions.

Aviation

Until the end of the First World War responsibility for civil aviation rested with the Home Office; in 1919 the newly created Air Ministry assumed responsibility for the function. In 1945 a Ministry of Civil Aviation was established; in 1953 it merged with the Ministry of Transport. In the late 1960s most of the Ministry of Transport's civil aviation functions were passed to the Board of Trade and then to the Department of Trade and Industry. A Civil Aviation Authority was set up in 1972.

Shipping

Government responsibility for merchant shipping before 1914 was limited to the administration of the Merchant Shipping Acts by the Board of Trade. With the outbreak of war in 1914 the government assumed powers for the regulation of merchant ships, leading to the creation of a Ministry of Shipping in 1916. In 1921 the Ministry was dissolved and its functions passed to the Mercantile Marine Branch of the Board of Trade. The outbreak of World War II saw the establishment of a second Ministry of Shipping with responsibility for merchant ships, foreshores, navigation and the Coastguard Service. In 1941 the Ministry was merged with the Ministry of Transport.

From 1997 - 2001, two executive agencies, the Coastguard Agency and the Marine Safety Agency, were responsible to the DETR for civil maritime search and rescue, and for marine safety and prevention of pollution by shipping, respectively. A newly merged 'Maritime and Coastguard Agency' operated under the authority of the subsequent DTLR, and now continues to exist within a similar structure under the present DfT.

Freight Distribution and Logistics

This section of the DETR, operating within the Planning Roads and Local Transport Group, co-ordinates policy development across all freight transport modes within the wider industrial context of supply chain management developments. It includes the Road Haulage Division and Transport Statistics Freight. Statistics are produced for Ministers, officials, other directorates and agencies in DETR, as well as for publication.

In 2002 a Department for Transport was established with the Transport Statistics: Freight Division being responsible for the provision of statistical support, advice and analysis in support of the development of freight policy. This reports to the RALMS Railways, Aviation, Logistics, Maritime and Security Group.

English Partnerships

English Partnerships was established on the 10th May 1999 as the national regeneration and development agency for England. Its creation encompassed the administrative merging of the Commission for the New Towns (CNT) with the national functions of the Urban Regeneration Agency (URA - previously known as English Partnerships). On 1 April 1999, the regional staff and Land and Property programmes of the URA were transferred to the Regional Development Agencies (July 2000 in the case of the London Development Agency).

English Partnerships comprises two legal entities/Non-Departmental Public Bodies and its Annual Report therefore includes two separate sets of accounts.

Commission for the New Towns

The CNT was established under the ambit of the New Towns Act 1959 and came into operation in October 1961. The Commission presently exists under the provisions of the New Towns Act 1981, as amended by the New Towns and Urban Development Corporations Act 1985, in addition to secondary legislation to empower the transfer of residuary property rights and liabilities from Urban Development Corporations and Housing Action Trusts. The CNT's central role is to "take over and, with a view to its eventual disposal, to hold, manage and turn to account the property of development corporations transferred to it under this Act, and dispose of property so transferred and any other property held by it, due regard being had to the convenience and welfare of persons residing, working or carrying on business there, and until disposal, the maintenance and enhancement of the value of the land held and the return obtained from it".

Urban Regeneration Agency

The URA (previously known as "English Partnerships") was created in accordance with the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. It took over responsibility for City Grant from the Department of Environment on 10 November 1993, following Parliamentary approval of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (Commencement and Transitional Provisions No 3) Order 1993. On 1 April 1994, the Agency came into its full operational powers when it assumed the functions associated with Derelict Land Grant and English Estates. The central mission of the URA is "to promote the regeneration of areas of need through the reclamation, development or redevelopment of land and buildings, with due regard to statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State."

In October 2001, the Government undertook a major review of English Partnerships. Upon completion of the review in July 2002, English Partnerships' role was confirmed as the national regeneration agency and one of the key delivery vehicles for the 'sustainable communities' agenda, as authorised by the report Sustainable Communities: building for the future published in February 2003. English Partnerships' present role is aimed at assisting the Government in supporting high quality sustainable growth in England. This incorporates greater proactive responsibility for delivering the urban renaissance, accommodating household growth and providing affordable housing. The Agency is also responsible for helping to regenerate any places badly affected by abandonment and decay, including a major role in the regeneration and remediation of brownfield land. English Partnerships works in close association with other stakeholders, including the Housing Corporation, Regional Development Agencies, local government and the private sector.

Survey of Heavy Goods Vehicles: reference CRDA/14

This series was created to provide users with information on domestic road freight activity undertaken by UK-registered heavy goods vehicles using public roads. The datasets in this series comprise results generated from a business survey titled 'Continuing Survey of Road Goods Transport (CSRGT)', as conducted during the period 1 January 1976 to 31 December 2003. See the Series Catalogue for CRDA/14 for further information.

Housing Data: Renovation Grants and Group Repair Schemes Activity: reference CRDA/29

The dataset relates to renovation grants and group repair schemes activity, and provides information on grants made by the Department to local authorities, homeowners, and landlords, to make repairs to housing. It comprises data gathered in England by the Department on a quarterly basis, covering the period December 1980 to March 2001. See the Series Catalogue for CRDA/29 for further information.

Countryside Information System: reference CRDA/46

The dataset was created to give policy advisers, planners and researchers easy access to spatial information about the British countryside. It holds information for the years 1992-1997. See the Series Catalogue for CRDA/46 for further information.

English House Condition Survey (EHCS): reference CRDA/51

The datasets were created to measure the changing condition of housing stock in England, feeding into reserve allocation for local authorities and registered social landlords, housing policy and development. NDAD holds datasets for the 1991 and 1996 EHCS surveys; the 1991 survey was conducted by the Department of the Environment (see the Administrative History for Environment Departments). See the Series Catalogue for CRDA/51 for further information on the EHCS.

Housebuilding Inquiry: reference CRDA/54

The Housebuilding Inquiry comprised data about the construction of new dwellings. It was collected by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its predecessor departments; the survey was directed at the public and private sector. The information was collected from Local Authorities' Building Control Departments, and concentrated on starts and completions of all construction jobs during 1980-2005. See the Series Catalogue for CRDA/54 for further information.

English Sites Database: reference CRDA/69

The English Sites database, as managed by English Partnerships, was an interactive database of strategic sites in England between 2000 - 2005. As a key government initiative which took the form of an internet-based property resource, this dataset comprised a web front-end (englishsites.com), that allowed information about development sites for sale to be publicised by public sector organisations. Through this dataset, thousands of registered users were able to access key information on strategic land sites throughout the English regions; in turn supporting the broader Government agenda on regeneration and sustainable growth. See the Series Catalogue for CRDA/69 for further information.

Humberside: study of attitudes and preferences 1989-1990: reference CRDA/72

The dataset contains data collected in a survey carried out on behalf of the Local Government Boundary Commission of England as part of a review of the county of Humberside carried out in 1989-1990. As a result of extensive local opposition to the administrative changes that had created Humberside in 1974, the survey sought to investigate the attitudes to and preferences for the future of Humberside among the residents of the area. See the Series Catalogue for CRDA/72 for further information.

Records of the various departments referred to above are held at the National Archives in the following series:

• Records of successive works departments are held in series with the reference "WORK".
• Records created or inherited by transport departments are held in series with the reference "MT"; transport statistics files will be found at MT 47 (from 1910-1981) and MT 65 (from 1935-1974).
• Records relating to housing, planning and local government are held in series with the reference "HLG".
• Records relating to economic planning are held in series with the reference "EW".
• Records created or inherited by the Department of the Environment (DoE) and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) are held in series with the reference "AT".

For further information contact the Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR, Tel 020 7944 8300.

Or contact The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU, Tel (Enquiry Service) 020 7944 4400.

1. The following sources were consulted when preparing this administrative history: Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum, 1649-1660; Road and Rail Traffic Act 1933 (Public General Acts, London, HMSO, 1933); Transport Act 1947, Statistics of Trade Act 1947 (Public General Acts, London, HMSO, 1947); Cabinet Office, Civil Service Year Book 1998, (London, HMSO, 1998), columns 235-319; Public Record Office, Public Record Office Current Guide (Kew, Public Record Office, 1997); sections 116/1/1-6, 401/1/2, 410/2/8, 410/2/11, 410/3/3, 412/1/2, 413/1/1-2, 414/1/1-3, 415/1/1-2, 509/1/1-3, 514/1/1, 517/1/2-3, 601/2/12, 601/2/24, 604/1/1, 605/1/1, 613/1/1-2, 628/1/1-5, 628/2/1, 708/1/3, 710/1/1; DETR web pages (http://www.detr.gov.uk); DTLR web page (http://www.dtlr.gov.uk/ ); Dr Mark Beecroft, Transportation Research Group, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southampton, From DETR to DfT via DTLR, what are the potential implications for transport planning of these changes in departmental organisation? (Transport Planning Society) pp12-13, (http://www.tps.org.uk/library/0102beecroft.pdf), consulted on 15 Nov 2004; Cabinet Office, 36th Civil Service Year Book 2001, (London, HMSO, 2001), pp 282-283; ODPM web pages (http://www.odpm.gov.uk/), the DfT website (http://www.dft.gov.uk); Department for Communities and Local Government web pages within section path: 'Home; Urban policy; Regeneration; English Partnerships', (http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1163266; and http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1128081), consulted on 3 Aug 2006.