Found: OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill Minister of State for Rail Great Minster House

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 6 August (HL9825), how the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency records the sex of driving licence holders on its databases; and whether those records reflect (1) biological sex, (2) any valid gender recognition certificate, or (3) self-identification.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

A driving licence number reflects the gender of the licence holder as notified to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The seventh character of the number will be a zero or one if the driver record shows the licence holder is male, and five or six if the record shows the licence holder is female.

The DVLA records gender according to the information provided by the applicant and as indicated on the evidence of identity that is provided at the time the licence is applied for.

Those wishing to change their gender will need to apply to the DVLA and provide supporting evidence, which can include a deed poll, statutory declaration or a gender recognition certificate.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 28 July (HL9485), what plans they have to undertake permanent repairs to the bridge on the A1 at Water Newton following the "temporary maintenance and technology works" referred to; and whether the repairs will require the reimposition of lane closures following their reopening on 12 September.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

National Highways has confirmed that detailed design work for the permanent repair will commence once the current project to realign the southbound carriageway has been completed.

Realignment work (temporary repair) started on 8 September 2025. Most of the work is scheduled to take place over several weekend closures between 12 September and 20 October 2025.

Lane closures on the southbound carriageway are not expected to be reimposed until the programme of permanent repairs commences, which is currently anticipated to be in late 2026. All traffic will remain subject to a temporary 40mph speed restriction until permanent repairs are complete. This measure is necessary as the newly realigned driving lanes will be narrower than the standard width.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 28 July (HL9485), what caused the delay to the remedial work taking place on the A1 at Water Newton between the imposition of lane closures on 1 November 2024 and July 2025.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

National Highways has had to take into account and work within several engineering, environmental, and archaeological constraints. The nature of the required works at this location were both challenging and complex.

The constraints included the presence of numerous public utilities in the immediate area, including a large water main situated close to the carriageway and the existing culvert. The site also includes Billing Brook which runs beneath the A1 at Water Newton and flows into a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. Finally, the proximity of the nearby historic Roman town of Durobrivae which meant that archaeological factors have needed to be taken into account.

Found: Letter dated 18/09/2025 from Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill to Lord Moylan and Lord Lucas regarding further