Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

This is the first amendment under Clause 2 and so perhaps I may say some general words about our approach to Clause 2. I shall then deal, if I can, with the noble Duke’s points. The clause sets out Natural England’s purpose. The general purpose in Clause 2(1) is deliberately broad, enabling and flexible. We want Natural England to contribute to current environmental policy objectives, while allowing sufficient flexibility to avoid restricting its ability to respond to future challenges. The new non-departmental public body is being established to ensure that the precious resource of our natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for present and future generations. It is about managing and enhancing places and nature and encouraging people to enjoy and benefit from them. As the Secretary of State said when the Bill had its Second Reading in another place:"““Our natural environment helps to make England what it is, from our beautiful coastlines to our historic dry stone walls and hedgerows. We have stunning landscapes, rivers and lakes, set in Shakespeare’s ‘silver sea’, a unique geodiversity and the flora and fauna that rely on this rich variety of habitats and ecosystems””.—[Official Report, Commons, 6/6/05; col. 1008.]" We need a strong and powerful organisation to build on the successes of the past and to ensure that this wonderful resource is rich, diverse and resilient and that its potential to generate social and economic benefits is realised. To give clarity and focus to this broad and challenging agenda, Clause 2(2), which we shall come to, elaborates on some of the activities which fall within the general purpose. It makes clear that Natural England’s purpose encompasses the activities carried out by the constituent bodies and provides continuity with existing legislation. I emphasise that the list in Clause 2(2) is not exhaustive or hierarchical. Natural England’s decisions must be aimed at achieving the general purpose and, as an independent NDPB, how Natural England achieves its purpose will be a matter for its board to discuss with Ministers. The general purpose sets the activities of Natural England in a sustainable development context, as envisaged in the rural strategy. It will be primarily an environmental organisation contributing to sustainable development through its environmental work, actively seeking social and economic benefits and avoiding unnecessary negative economic and social impacts. I turn to the amendment. As I said a moment ago, we believe that Natural England should have a role in contributing to sustainable development by promoting environmental outcomes which also generate social and economic benefits. It is important that Natural England is able to fulfil its potential and to be well regarded. We believe that by giving it a role in sustainable development, it can and will play an important part above and beyond that which the three predecessor bodies currently can. However, it will remain, first and foremost—I emphasise this—an environmental champion. No single public body is responsible for sustainable development; it is the context in which they operate. That applies, for example, to the Environment Agency and the regional development agencies, and of course it is right that it should apply to Natural England. An alternative formulation is offered by these two amendments, which splits the purpose into two: one relating to the natural environment; the other to sustainable development. We think that the danger of that approach is that Natural England itself—and the wide range of partners with which it will work—may consider that it has responsibilities towards sustainable development which are somehow independent of its environmental purpose. That is not our approach. In our view, sustainable development provides the context for Natural England and we want it to make a positive contribution to social and economic development. But that is not the same as giving it a sub-purpose related to sustainable development. That is our approach and, on that basis, I invite the noble Duke to withdraw the amendment.