Commons Bill [HL]

My Lords, I also thank the Minister for his very clear introduction of the Bill. I apologise for speaking behind his shoulder. My personal interest lies in the smaller commons in arable areas, which are environmentally very important as little islands for wildlife, especially in Norfolk. I tried to find out whether I had any pecuniary interest to declare in speaking today, as a county directory just before the war suggested that a certain common was owned by the Bishop of Norwich and my father—one at each end, that is, not shared. However, after checking with Norwich County Council yesterday, I found that there is absolutely no reference anywhere to the ownership of the common. So I do not believe I have any interest to declare. I have no doubt that it would be very expensive for me to hire a lawyer to find out. I fear that that is typical of much of the registration that took place as a result of the 1965 Act, as the authorities and, as far as I am concerned, the counties were not obliged to follow up or check the areas of individual commons, to check that the list of owners was complete, or to check the number and rights of commoners or that commons were being managed in a suitable way. I intend to be brief, as I am sure that others with much more experience than me will have much to say. Also I cannot go into detail about a visit to a local common by myself and my friend Mr Norman Lamb, the Member of Parliament for North Norfolk, as I believe the matter is sub judice. However, I shall say that the common in question was claimed by someone who did not appear, on any evidence shown to me, to have title to it. He went out of his way to fence the whole common, which is against any law relating to commons that I have ever heard of. I feel that the Bill is a good start in rectifying many of the problems that have arisen. While I do not agree with every single word of it, I am sure that it will leave this House in a form that will be very helpful to those whose job it is, in the future, to protect and to ensure a good future for commons and wildlife. I was particularly encouraged by remarks made by a member of staff at Norfolk County Council to whom I spoke yesterday. She said that she was looking forward to being able to do her job more thoroughly. Indeed, many environmental and professional bodies have written to me saying the same thing. However, I have one question for the Minister. Having read Part 3 carefully, how can a commons association, or whatever body manages a common, deal with Travellers who may turn up on a common? We all know that the usual laws for dealing with such a problem on private or public land are cumbersome and time-consuming and that considerable damage may be caused to an ecologically sensitive site before they are removed. That is all I want to say now, but I can assure the Minister that I shall not be silent for further stages of the Bill.