Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

The noble Baroness, Lady Farrington, suggested that the payment of a pension was a form of compensation for the lower salary that a board member of Natural England might receive. That is a rather depressing suggestion or comparison. If one is invited to sit on a body such as Natural England, surely it is a public service and an honour to do so. That is what is behind the amendment, and my noble friend Lady O’Cathain is absolutely right in what she said about the pension issue. We are getting this completely wrong and we should go right back to basic reasons why people are invited to sit on boards such as this—because they are well-respected in the community and in return for that they should see it as an honour.