Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

I, too, rise to speak to Amendment No. 116. As this is the first time that I have spoken in Committee, I declare my interest as a dairy farmer in Cheshire and as a director of the farmers co-operative, Dairy Farmers of Britain. I am grateful to Dr Stephen Tapper of the Game Conservancy Trust for his advice on this matter. Following on from my noble friend Lord Carter and the very helpful response from the noble Earl, Lord Peel, I, too, believe that it is important that the sustainable use of biological resources is added to Natural England’s list of purposes, and in accordance with the general principles that are agreed internationally. Although Ministers and their departments have signed up to the convention, it could be argued that this would be a hollow agreement if it were not adhered to by the agency most empowered to act in this arena. Following the line taken by the noble Earl, Lord Peel, the amendment is pertinent to Natural England and in no way places further bureaucratic burdens on other public bodies. Nor does it expect all 388 principal local authorities to be conversant with international treaties. Internationally, the sustainable use of natural resources has been a key conservation concept ever since the world conservation strategy in 1980 and as recently as the Addis Ababa principles and guidelines for the sustainable use of biodiversity. The sustainable use of wildlife has yet to be properly addressed in UK legislation. Should not Natural England’s general purpose reflect the UK’s obligations on the sustainable use of wildlife?