Transport Minister Rosie Winterton today unveiled the Department's priorities for Social and Economic research for the next year, setting out how the research will be used to support evidence based, sustainable transport policies.
This work is part of the DfT's extensive research and analysis programme, which collects world class evidence to inform the whole range of the Department policies.
Speaking at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Northern Transport Conference in York, the minister outlined how this particular programme for 2008/09 will include a renewed focus on providing analysis to support delivery of 'Towards a Sustainable Transport System'.
Key research activities in this area for the coming year include:
* To continue with six monthly monitoring of public attitudes to climate change. This will help inform policy development on how Government can help encourage more sustainable transport options.
* Research to inform the refresh of the New Approach to Transport Appraisal (NATA), to assure quality, maintain its reputation and to review how the environmental, economic and social impacts of transport are appraised within this guidance. This will help the Department evaluate the range of impacts of proposed transport schemes.
* Research to assess transport's impact on the UK's international competitiveness, as highlighted in the Eddington Study. This will help the Department develop an approach to consider these impacts in decisions on transport schemes.
Rosie Winterton said:
"Our strategy 'Towards a Sustainable Transport System' sets out the Government's vision of how we can deliver low carbon transport that supports economic growth. To do this, we need to make sure our policies are based on sound evidence. The updated research programme published today is one of several that will help us continue to do exactly that."