Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Byford, for her contribution to this debate. While I recognise the differences, I am sure that the noble Baroness might join me in preferring that RDAs be at least subject to the approval of an—even indirectly—elected assembly, rather than, despite what the Minister says, only having to pay regard to the views of the assembly, as they do at the moment. They do not have to gain the assembly’s approval. There is still a democratic deficit. Given the Conservative Party’s launch of their new democratic taskforce, I think the noble Baroness might be able to join me in wishing to fill that deficit. In the last paragraph of his reply the Minister made me hope that he was about to accept the first tranche of my amendments, because the Government set all these things in train and my amendments seem to be rather in line with Government thinking. Clearly, that is not to be. I may return with something very simple at Report that ensures that all the actions of an RDA fall under the banner of sustainable development. In the mean time, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendment No. 355 not moved.] Clause 94 [Crown land]: