§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out the timetable for publishing and implementing the regulations under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. [148920]
§ Mr. MeacherSubstantial parts of the Act came into force on 30 January 2001 and further provisions, including the whole of Part IV (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty), will come into force on 1 April 2001. The implementation of many of the remaining provisions depends on the making of a large number of regulations which my Department will be preparing over the next two or three years. Where appropriate, these provisions will be subject to public consultation.
We expect to lay regulations on vehicular access over common land in May. Immediate priority is also being given to regulations for the mapping of access land, the establishment of local access forums, statutory guidance for the preparation of rights of way improvement plans and making provision for disabled people. The implementation of the right of access to open countryside depends primarily on the completion of the mapping programme which the Countryside Agency have in hand.