Commons Bill [HL]

On 28-day closures, my advice is that commoners do not have that power; it is a power either for the owner or the owner’s tenant. The commoner cannot use the 28-day closure privilege. So that is not likely to arise. Our experience is that the CROW Act arrangements for protecting wildlife have so far proved successful in practice. As regards the noble Lord’s example of managing vegetation for lapwings, a commons association could be given that sort of function. I hope that helps him—to some extent at least.