Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

Our Amendment No. 216 is grouped with this amendment. Here, I dare say we are touching on the whole sphere of open and joined-up government. Those who volunteer in public service, such as school governors, county or district councillors and many others, will be aware of the thousands of hours spent cancelling and rearranging meetings because of delays in publishing consultations, regulations and guidelines. For example, I have heard how on school boards frequently the local officers hold meetings to alert governors to changes which are on the way and which will affect, for example, the budgeting process. There is then a lengthy hiatus before the details are available. Obviously discussions are held well in advance and the government officials are clear about what has to be achieved. The hold-up seems to be in moving the details from Whitehall to the coalface. Guidance on how Natural England is to deal with regional planning matters and others of its duties—for example, compulsory purchases for experimental schemes—will be most influential and will affect many people. It is important that the Secretary of State should have a clear need to prioritise this part of his department’s duties and ensure that his staff concentrate on the mundane aspects of legislation as well as the more interesting, groundbreaking ones.