Commons Bill [HL]

I cannot but agree with my noble friend Lord Williams of Elvel. Monitoring the performance of commons associations will be an important part of any implementation process for Part 2 of the Commons Bill. The noble Lord is right to highlight the significance of this function. In England, where Natural England is expected to play a key role in facilitating the establishment of commons associations, there will be a desire to ensure that, where associations are established, they carry out their functions effectively. Under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill, Natural England will have the powers to require such monitoring reports to be provided on the programmes that it is implementing. Clause 3 of that Bill places a duty on Natural England to keep up-to-date on matters relating to its general purpose. It would not be right for us to require monitoring action by Natural England in this Bill when the intentions of the amendment are clearly met in the powers provided in Clause 3 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill. As my noble friend explained, in Wales, where the Countryside Council for Wales is likely to have a role in facilitating the establishment of commons associations, we would also expect to see a strong interest in monitoring the effectiveness of these associations. The decisions on implementation in Part 2 of the Bill in Wales, and any monitoring requirements, will be made by the Welsh Assembly Government. I therefore ask the noble Lord to withdraw his amendment in the light of those assurances.