Commons Bill [HL]

Would it not be fairer and more sensible to give the commons association or the owner the first option? In the event of the commons association or the owner not taking up the option, the government agency is allowed to come in. I can think of a huge number of examples—not, alas, in England so I shall not cite them; they are in Scotland—where immense problems have jeopardised the livelihoods of local farmers. When it comes to putting cash on the table the local farmer is no match for either Natural England or the Countryside Council for Wales. If somebody in some back room decides that the body wants to buy all the severance rights of commons, there is not a hope in whatever that a farmer will ever get a chance to buy them.