Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

Perhaps I may briefly say how much I appreciated the amendment of my noble friend Lord Dixon-Smith because he raised something of fundamental importance. There is no doubt that we will have to experience and put up with change in the countryside in order to accommodate some of the problems the noble Lord mentioned. Without expanding on what the noble Lord said, because I think he put his case extremely well, I simply ask the Minister whether he thinks that Natural England’s ability to deal with the issues the noble Lord raised is sufficiently wide enough in the Bill. That question really needs to be looked at.