§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that landowners claiming full exemption from inheritance tax are obliged to publicise in the relevant local press on a periodic basis the full extent of public access to their land.
§ Mr. DorrellThe owner of land that has been conditionally exempted from inheritance tax is already required to publicise the agreed public access arrangements. The extent of the publicity depends on the facts of each case. The owner will generally be required to take specific steps to publicise public access, for example by advertising the access arrangements in a local tourist office or town hall.
The appropriate heritage advisory agency, for example the Countryside Commission for scenic land in England, is able to supply information about public access to heritage land including conditionally exempt land, although land will not be identified as conditionally exempt. In addition, in England and Wales, a member of the public who wants information about public access in a specific area can contact the footpaths officer of the appropriate county council or national park authority. Details of footpaths and public access also often appear on maps and in commercial publications, particularly for major tourist areas.