Policy paper

Interministerial Group for Transport Matters Communiqué: 13 September 2023

Updated 18 April 2024

The Inter-ministerial Group for Transport met on 13 September 2023 by video conference. The meeting was chaired by Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Transport, Scottish Government.

The attending ministers were from the:

  • UK government: Richard Holden MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Roads and Local Transport
  • Welsh Government: Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change
  • Northern Ireland Executive: Sian Kerr, Director of Transport Planning and Policy

The chair welcomed all attendees to the meeting.

The discussions focused on matters surrounding the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, rail reform and minimum service levels for rail.

Those present detailed the approaches their respective governments are taking in relation to agenda items and agreed to identify areas in which further work could be undertaken to share knowledge, challenges, experience and good practice.

Topics covered include:

  • electrification of transport
  • street works
  • rail devolution and the different ways in which it impacts Scottish Government and Welsh Government
  • regulation for minimum service levels

Ministers welcomed their respective governments continuing to collaborate, where possible, while respecting the devolution settlements. They agreed that officials should work together to explore the areas that would most benefit from intergovernmental working, such as freight and port issues.