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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to implement the requirements of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to record all rights of way on a definitive map; and what proportion of applications for new public rights of way are outstanding.

Local Authorities are responsible for implementing the requirements of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the recording of rights of ways on the definitive map and statement for the area they are responsible for. The Government is committed to taking forward a number of reforms which will streamline the process for the recording of all rights of way. Details on outstanding applications are not held centrally.

In addition, the Government has tabled an amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to amend the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to undertake a review of open access land mapping before 1 January 2031 so that as many people as possible can enjoy more of England’s mountains, moor, heath, down and registered common land.