Communiqué from the Interministerial Group for Transport Matters: 16 March 2026
Published 22 June 2026
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The Inter-ministerial Group for Transport met virtually on 16 March 2026. The meeting was chaired by Heidi Alexander, MP, Secretary of State for Transport, UK government.
The attending Ministers were from the:
- Scottish Government: Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Transport
- Northern Ireland Executive: Liz Kimmins MLA, Minister for Infrastructure
- Welsh Government: Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales
The chair welcomed all attendees to the meeting.
Ministers acknowledged the recent fire near Glasgow Central Station and the response to ensure continued passenger safety and service resilience.
Discussions then focused on:
- bus-related matters
- respective transport strategies
- the UK’s relationship with the EU
Ministers discussed their respective approaches to bus fares and concessionary travel. They also discussed the importance of ensuring public safety on buses and across the wider transport network, including road safety and the range of measures being considered across the four nations.
Ministers noted ongoing work in each nation to tackle antisocial behaviour and support vulnerable groups. There was agreement to share information on recent work by the Department for Transport (DfT) on transport safety officers and to share data on floating bus stop safety.
Under the agenda item on transport strategies, ministers noted ongoing work across the four nations to develop and refine national transport strategies. Discussions emphasised the importance of strong consultation processes, keeping strategies relevant over the long term and ensuring that they support more intuitive, people‑focused and integrated transport systems.
The Secretary of State for Transport provided an update on several aspects of the UK’s relationship with the EU. All agreed to maintain clear and ongoing dialogue on these matters.
In closing, the Secretary of State for Transport updated Ministers on her department’s response to the ongoing situation in the Middle East and thanked all for their attendance.