Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

This has been a very informative and interesting debate, and I thank all those who have spoken. I especially thank the noble Lords, Lord Renton of Mount Harry and Lord Judd, and the noble Earl, Lord Peel, for recognising that there is a paradox and that there are some fundamental issues about how we regard representation, and so on. I somewhat regret not repeating the speech I made on Thursday in introducing the rural economy debate, and touching much more on the lack of housing, low seasonal wages, the irrelevance of the Government’s choice agenda when it comes to rural schools, and so on. I thought that to save time I would not repeat it. But in not speaking on those issues at length, I fear that I laid myself open to two things. I have been misunderstood by the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Exeter. I share his views on the RDAs, and hope that he will support my Amendments Nos. 254 and 255 when we come to them. RDAs are among the most unaccountable bodies dealing with rural areas—we agree on that. If I had repeated my speech, I would also have avoided being, if I may say so gently, patronised by the noble Lord, Lord Carter. He believes that my view is romantic.