Commons Bill [HL]

I support my noble friend Lord Inglewood. I rather agree with him in his analysis of the speech by the noble Lord, Lord Tyler. It would be a mistake to have a presumption in favour of larger areas. Despite the fact that the ground may appear similar to look at, each common has its own identity, its own pride and its own way of working. That involves the owners as well as the farmers. It would be unhelpful for us to move in that direction. We should allow the farmers and the owners on the ground to find their own level. Any enforcement to the contrary would be counter-productive.