Commons Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 150:"Page 16, line 18, leave out ““the agricultural use of”” and insert ““agricultural activities, the management of vegetation and the exercise of rights of common on””" The noble Baroness said: Government Amendment No. 150 expands the functions which can be given to an association to include the making of rules on agricultural activities, the management of vegetation and the exercise of rights of common. This is to make it consistent with the list of functions which can be given to an association under government Amendment No. 142. The list of functions in subsection (3) illustrates the functions, as my noble friend has just said, that can be given to an association. It is not intended to be, nor should it be, comprehensive. Amendment No. 142 enables associations to be given functions related to the management of agricultural activities, vegetation and types of common. Subsection (3) highlights that one function will be the making of rules relating to these three broad areas of activity. As my noble friend said, rule-making is an essential function of a commons association. To improve management of the common, an association must be able to make rules binding on all those using the common for agricultural activity. Associations will be given functions relevant only to the reasons for which they are established. I hope that that reassures the noble Baroness. Rules may be made only in relation to the functions given to an association. And, as has just been confirmed, rules will be made by majority voting, numerically, in an association. I beg to move.