Commons Bill [HL]

I thank the Minister very much for his full answer. My noble friend will read Hansard and will reflect upon it. I hope that the Minister will comment on two points that have just been made. One concerns the question of a voluntary process. Farmers have talked to me about the uncertainty of knowing what those rights are, who has them and where they stand now. As we have a Bill before us—and it may be another 40 years before we have another such Bill before us—it would be a pity not to tackle the question a little more robustly. That would be welcome. I shall not push the amendment of my noble friend Lord Inglewood at this stage. However, I again thank the Minister for his very full answer, upon which my noble friend will reflect. The Minister said that he had it in mind to consult further on the matter. Has he any idea how soon that consultation will take place? Will it take place over a period of, say, three months? Will the Bill have passed through this House and another place by then? Or is he hoping that the consultation will take place before the Bill finally passes through another place? It would be helpful to the Committee to be given an indication of that.