Dear Mr Bond,

FOI Request

I am writing to confirm that the Agency has now completed its search for the information you requested on 20 May 2008.

Subject: I wish to have a copy of the current, or most recent advice for staff on whether the DVLA as an agency of the department, is a separate public authority from the Department under the gender equality duty.

This information is not held but I can confirm:

The DVLA, as an Agency of the Department for Transport, is part of the Department's Gender Equality Scheme but it complies with its Gender Equality Duties through its own monitoring and Action Plan.

This information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. You are free to use it for your own purposes, including any non-commercial research you are doing and for the purposes of news reporting. Any other re-use, for example commercial publication, would require the permission of the copyright holder. Most documents supplied by DVLA will have been produced by government officials and will be Crown Copyright. You can find details on the arrangements for re-using Crown copyright on the Office of Public Sector Information website at:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/index.htm.

If you are unhappy with the way the DVLA has handled your request or with the decisions made in relation to your request you may complain by writing to me at the above address. Please see attached details of the Department for Transport's complaints procedure and your right to complain to the Information Commissioner.from [department] you may ask for an internal review. You should contact [name of official and address] if you wish to complain

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

Judith Smith

Human Resources & Estates Director

C3 West

Your right to complain to [DfT/Agency] and the Information Commissioner

You have the right to complain about the way in which your request for information was handled and/or about the decision not to disclose all or part of the information requested. In addition a complaint can be made that DfT has not complied with its FOI publication scheme.

Your complaint will be acknowledged and you will be advised of a target date by which to expect a response. Initially your complaint will be re-considered by the official who dealt with your request for information. If, after careful consideration, that official decides that his/her decision was correct, your complaint will automatically be referred to a senior independent official who will conduct a further review. You will be advised of the outcome of your complaint and if a decision is taken to disclose information originally withheld this will be done as soon as possible.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

 Information Commissioner's Office
 Wycliffe House
 Water Lane
 Wilmslow
 Cheshire
 SK9 5AF

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