Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

I did not mention my other amendments in this group during my speech on whether the clause should stand part, partly because my remarks follow on from what has just been said. Amendment No. 252 suggests that the CRC should be in at the development stage of policy and not just the monitoring and implementing stages, which would be rather shutting the door after the horse had bolted. So, although I do not yet want to admit that the CRC will exist, if it is to exist, it should be in at the policy development stage, ensuring that consultation happens. In Amendments Nos. 246 and 248, I simply suggest that specifying ““social and economic”” needs draws the brief too tightly. For example, I would ask the right reverend Prelate about including the word ““spiritual””, or perhaps he considers that that is encompassed in ““social””. But, if the CRC is to exist, I should prefer it to be drawn as widely as possible.