Commons Bill [HL]

Before we begin with Amendment No. 106, I seek the Committee’s indulgence to refer to a matter we debated yesterday. In speaking to lead Amendment No. 77A, tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Byford, which was grouped with other amendments relating to the National Trust, I said that the powers in the Bill to amend local Acts by order would be,"““exercised rarely and cautiously, in consultation with the bodies whose interests are affected and subject to parliamentary scrutiny””.—[Official Report, 1/11/05; col. GC 38.]" That was not quite correct. It is certainly the case that orders under Clause 34—consequential provision on establishment of commons associations—and Clause 42—supplementary provision about works in local Acts—are subject to the negative resolution procedure in both Houses. Orders under Clause 16, for the deregistration and exchange of land, are purely administrative orders relating to particular local schemes and are therefore not subject to parliamentary oversight. It is our intention, however, that orders under all those clauses will be open to public consultation. I am sorry if my words yesterday led to any uncertainty.