Commons Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 45:"Page 21, line 15, at end insert ““to an adjacent commons association for a period not exceeding 12 calendar months””" The noble Duke said: My Lords, the Bill provides for the transfer of rights of property and liabilities in cases where it is deemed that a commons association is no longer in operation or in a position to operate effectively. The Bill does not state to where the transfer should be made. We believe that it would be wrong to transfer rights and property to a governmental organisation if there were the slightest chance that a new association could arise. We feel that there should be provision for the short-term transfer to another commons association, pending either the creation of a replacement association or the takeover by an existing one. We do, however, believe that the interregnum should be short and within a definite closure date. We discussed this issue at some length in Committee, and, as the Minister said, there may well be good reasons why the association should be wound up. It may be difficult to find an association willing to take on the assets and liabilities, but we are still not entirely clear on what liabilities commons associations might generate during their lifetime and what will be involved in their winding-up or dissolution. I beg to move.