Commons Bill [HL]

The noble Baroness will not be surprised to hear that I do not agree with her opposition to the Question. This is a crucial clause. We have enjoyed our debates on it today. I do not think that they have been incredibly numerous, although they have been of some importance. I do not intend to speak for long, except to remind Members of the Committee that this clause provides for local interests—notably, the commoners and the landowner—to decide whether they ought to avail themselves of the powers of the Bill. If the answer is no, that is their prerogative. No one can step in and use the provisions of Part 2 to push aside their interest in the land and impose their own agenda instead. This is really a bottom-up process. Part 2 will not impose these associations on the local interests against their will. Indeed, that would be legally impossible and completely impractical.