Written questions by MacNae.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to make it easier to create more routes (a) to and (b) through green spaces.

The Government recognises the importance of access to nature for health and wellbeing and is committed to making it easier for people to reach and enjoy green spaces. We are delivering on our manifesto commitments by creating nine new national river walks and three new national forests in England, while also working with partners to develop further policies that improve access. Key initiatives already underway include the King Charles III England Coast Path, which has over 2,600 miles approved, 1,855 miles already open, and is creating 250,000 hectares of new open access land. Wainwright’s Coast to Coast route has now been designated as a National Trail across northern England. The £33 million Access for All programme is actively improving inclusivity across trails, landscapes, forests, and the wider countryside. Additionally, the repeal of the cut-off date for registering historic rights of way is helping to protect hundreds of miles of paths for future generations. Together, these actions are helping to create and retain routes to and through green spaces across the country.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of opening paths on disused railway lines to increase public access to nature.

The management and maintenance of public rights of way (RoW), including keeping them free from obstructions, are the responsibility of local highway authorities. These authorities are best placed to understand local priorities and allocate funding for rights of way activities accordingly. Local authorities are required to maintain a Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP), which sets out how they intend to improve the rights of way network in their area for all users. These plans include assessments of the condition of the network and are typically available on the authority’s website. Where disused railway lines exist within a local authority’s catchment area, it is for the authority to consider whether these can be integrated into the existing rights of way network. Decisions regarding such integration rest with the local highway authority, not central Government.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing new river trails designed for multi-use.

We are actively engaging with stakeholders to identify suitable locations for the nine new national river walks. Wherever feasible, we aim to incorporate multi-user access to ensure inclusivity.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature's report entitled, Outdoors For All.

The Government welcomes the All Party Parliamentary Group for Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature's report and agrees with the report’s conclusion that time spent outdoors is vital for both physical and mental wellbeing. We are committed to expanding opportunities for people to connect with nature. Our current initiatives include the creation of nine new national river walks and three new national forests in England, helping to bring nature closer to communities across the country. We are actively shaping policy to support wider access to nature, working in collaboration with other departments and key delivery partners.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department will take steps to publish a green paper to expand access to nature.

The Government is committed to taking action to improve access to nature and recognises the importance of this issue. We are already taking steps to expand public access to nature, for example through our commitment to creating nine new river walks and three new national forests and will continue to explore measures to increase this further.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to instruct Natural England to develop proposals for new Special Protection Areas for vulnerable bird species.

In May 2025, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) released the Third Special Protection Areas (SPAs) Review (Phase 2), assessing the UK’s SPA network and its protection of bird species. The report offers guidance from JNCC and the UK’s four statutory conservation bodies, which administrations must consider. Ministers and agencies, including Natural England (NE), are reviewing it. A key focus is to ensure that existing sites are in favourable condition, but the Government may also, if necessary, direct NE to implement the report’s recommendations, including designating new SPAs.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to improve the access of zoos to European Conservation Breeding Programmes as part of negotiations with the European Union on veterinary (a) sanitary and (b) phytosanitary agreements.

As announced at the UK-EU Leaders’ Summit on 19 May 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to establish a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Area. This initiative is aimed at reducing trade barriers to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of goods, including zoo animals, while maintaining high standards of biosecurity. With the principles and framework of the SPS agreement now agreed, detailed negotiations will commence. These discussions will focus on streamlining SPS checks and certification processes, with the aim of reducing administrative burdens where possible, while safeguarding the UK’s biosecurity. Ministers and officials from Defra are actively engaging with the zoo and wildlife sector to understand its specific challenges and priorities. This ongoing dialogue will ensure that the sector’s needs are considered throughout the negotiation process, as we work to secure the best possible outcome that supports participation in vital conservation efforts.