Commons Bill [HL]

The Minister has just given the assurance that the noble Lord, Lord Inglewood, was asking for, but I shall press her on this matter. She is saying that the normal processes of consultation and demonstration of support apply if a group of commoners, or people interested in the common, are to move from being a voluntary association to a statutory association. Is the Minister saying that that process of consultation can achieve a situation in which the same association, perhaps by necessary changes to its constitution and membership, can move from being a voluntary association to a statutory association, or is she saying that the voluntary association will have to close down and a new statutory association will have to start up? That is the problem that would cause extra costs.