Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

I very much support the amendment moved by the noble Baroness. It is possibly a more complete way of achieving what I have set out in my amendment, which follows. In my amendment, I question the policy towards the relationship between the Secretary of State and Parliament, as did the noble Baroness. Clause 15(4) reads:"““The Secretary of State must publish any guidance given under this section””." The amendment would alter the wording to:"““The Secretary of State must lay before both Houses of Parliament any guidance given under this section””." It is entirely usual to give the Secretary of State a duty to keep Parliament fully informed on matters of significance. The proposed duty ““must publish”” is subjective. The Secretary of State could decide what to publicise and to whom—a much less satisfactory option than the duty to inform Parliament. Not that that duty would in any way preclude publicity—quite the contrary. The full text of any guidance would be available for the publication of comment by any interested party, including both the Secretary of State and Natural England. The amendment therefore improves the balance of the relationship between the executive and the legislature and increases the likelihood of well informed publicity.