§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the Court of Appeal decision in R. v. Secretary of State for the Environment ex Parte Hood 1975, he proposes to introduce legislation to amend the Countryside Act 1968; what advice he proposes to issue to county councils which have yet to publish proposals for reclassifying "roads used as public paths" under the 1968 Act; and what action is to be taken in those cases where reclassification has already taken place.
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§ Mr. Denis HowellMy right hon. Friend and I have decided not to seek amending legislation to reverse the effect of the Court's decision on the reclassification of roads used as public paths. We are in touch with local authority Associations on the question of guidance to be issued in relation to both past and future reclassifications.