§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what 429W plans he has to increase public access to woodlands and river banks; and if he will make a statement. [101215]
§ Mr. MullinThe Government's plans, announced in March this year, to introduce a new statutory right of access on foot to specified categories of open countryside—mountain, moor, heath, down and registered common land—will be included in the countryside Bill which was announced in the Queen's Speech. At the Government's request, the Countryside Agency, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission have recently reported on the case for extending public access to other types of open countryside, such as coast, woodland and riverside. We are considering their views carefully before deciding how best to proceed.