HC Deb 19 March 1999 vol 327 c585W
Mr. Maclean

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice his Department plans to issue to landowners regarding public liability insurance as a result of his Department's plans to provide a statutory right of access to open countryside. [76792]

Mr. Meacher

It is, in the first instance, for individual landowners and their advisers to decide what insurance, including public liability insurance, is most appropriate for their needs. The Government have made clear that the liability owed by landowners to people exercising a new statutory right of access will be limited to that owed to trespassers.

Mr. Maclean

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the extra public liability insurance costs for landowners as a result of his Department's plans to provide a statutory right of access to open countryside. [76796]

Mr. Meacher

The Government do not expect a new statutory right of access on foot to open countryside to have a significant impact on public insurance costs for landowners. An economic appraisal study for the Government by independent consultants suggests that any increase in the public liability insurance premium will be small.

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