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

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will be extending the time to register historic footpaths and rights of way beyond 1 January 2026 to reflect the interruption in this work due to (1) Brexit, and (2) the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deferring the 2026 cut-off date for registration of historic rights of way is a possibility, which would create more time for the reforms to rights of way legislation to be implemented effectively. However, we must weigh this against the desire for certainty around where rights of way exist, which implementing the cut-off date will bring. Officials will continue to keep this under review in consultation with the Stakeholder Working Group.