Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s comments, especially those relating to my officials who have done an excellent job in dealing with what is a complicated issue and with much correspondence from many hon. Members and others. The effect is that BOAT claims made before those two dates will be processed under the terms of the existing legislation, and therefore any rights for mechanically propelled vehicles that they seek to establish will not be extinguished, provided the claim proves successful. However, any BOAT claims made after those dates will be dealt with under the terms of the new legislation, subject to two limited exemptions. The first is when local authorities have already reached the stage of determining the claim and the other is when they are made by property owners, as raised on Report by the right hon. Member for Bracknell.