Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 19 October 2022 to Question 59009 on Rights of Way and of 9 March to Question 150378 Rights of Way: Registration, whether she plans to repeal the 2026 cut-off date to record historic rights.

The Secretary of State has decided to commence the cut-off date for recording historic public rights of way which will provide certainty for all parties. The Government remains committed to implementing the rights of way reforms package as soon as reasonably practicable, which will streamline processes and benefit users, landowners and local authorities.

However, in recognising the reforms have experienced delays due to Covid, the Secretary of State has also decided to use existing powers in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to implement a full 5-year extension of the cut-off date to 1 January 2031. This will allow time for our rights of way reforms to have a real impact.

The Secretary of State is keen to promote responsible access, protect nature and support people who work and live in the countryside.