Commons Bill [HL]

In proposing Amendments Nos. 29 and 30, I take on board what the noble Baroness, Lady Byford, has just said. We have already mentioned the matter and I think that it will be debated further later in the Bill. I am grateful to the Minister for spelling out the circumstances where land would be severed permanently. In addressing Amendment No. 29 he referred to derelict land and other classes of land which would come into this category. There is great nervousness among commons associations that perhaps other land would be severed, though it could not be understood because severance was being suspended on the date on which this Bill was published. However, I will read with interest what the Minister said. If I understood him correctly, he spelt out the circumstances under which this would occur. Amendment No. 30 is an alternative to some of the amendments that have been debated so far. Our amendment proposes that the land would return to,"““the commons association for distribution amongst its right holders who are registered graziers and users of the common””." That has been the practice. Clearly, there is an issue concerning the connection between common land and holdings which often surround common land, and the viability of those holdings that are dependent on common grazing. There is great antipathy towards land going to Natural England and the CCW, but I am glad to see that one of the amendments includes ““commons association””. Many commons associations have put it to me that the land should go back to them for distribution. That is the upshot of Amendment No. 30 and I would like to see it tested in debate.