To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure local authorities keep bridleways accessible, signposted and maintained. (105295)

The statutory best value performance management framework requires local authorities to review their functions, publish annual performance plans and be subject to an audit and inspection regime. There is currently one performance indicator measuring the ease of use of rights of way.

In addition, under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, all highway authorities must prepare a rights of way improvement plan. This must set out how they intend to identify the changes to be made to improve their local rights of way network, including better provision for equestrians.