Commons Bill [HL]

My Lords, I certainly agree with my noble friend Lord Greaves that the Government moved a considerable way in some respects, but this group of amendments is a mixed bag. Let us take, for example, what the Minister said about a statutory commons association and the power of veto. That is reassuring to some extent until one wonders what happens in the case of voluntary commons. They make up the greatest number of commons by far. I do not know of a statutory common in the whole of Wales, for example, although this power might encourage commons to become statutory. That may be an agenda. None the less, I and many other Members, I am sure, are concerned about the position of voluntary commons in this situation. We certainly take on board the delicate situation regarding SSSIs, but Natural England and the CCW taking land out of commission because of overstocking is a very contentious issue. Although I note that the Minister said that those bodies have no intention of acquiring the land for themselves, what about people’s livelihoods in this situation? Many people with rights of common are small farmers who depend on the common to make a living. The reallocation of grazing rights to other commoners could be a recipe for huge disagreement and disgruntlement among the commoners, although I understand that sympathetic management may be what is required in those cases. We are in danger of causing depopulation or even conducting social engineering by environmental dictat. I am sure that that is not intended, but we are in danger of doing it. I am sure the Minister would agree that co-operation would be far better. When we talk about sustainable grazing, we need to think about sustainable people as well. In remote rural areas, they are often the only people to be found. We need to take their concerns on board. I note that the Government expressed a measure of agreement with the amendment of the noble Earl, Lord Peel. We certainly agree with it. I am very pleased that the Minister took note of the amendment of my noble friend Lord Greaves and said that he would respond positively to it. I thank him very much for that. I was disappointed by his reaction to Amendment No. 10 of my noble friend Lady Miller, which would give a commons association the first option to purchase the right of common. We feel strongly about this. I thank the noble Earl, Lord Caithness, the noble Lord, Lord Jopling, and the noble Baroness, Lady Byford, for their support on many of these matters. There is a variety of amendments in this group, some of which we welcome—and we certainly welcome the Minister’s assurances on them—but others of which are contentious. I am sure that the Minister will realise that. But at this stage, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.