Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

I support the intervention made by my noble friend Lord Carter. I have a great deal of sympathy with the intention behind the amendment and with the way in which the noble Baroness, Lady Byford, moved it. However, I think that its wording requires more attention. It seems to me—I made this point the other day—that we want to promote nature conservation, to protect biodiversity and to conserve and enhance the landscape not as ends in themselves, but so that we can enrich the lives of an increasing number and an increasingly wide cross-section of people in our society. To introduce, through the way in which the amendment is worded, the concept that access to the countryside is not also of over-riding importance is unfortunate. If one were to begin to break down the wording in the Bill as it stands, one might make more progress. For example, it is arguable that,"““promoting access to the countryside””," should not be lumped together in the same paragraph as ““encouraging open-air recreation””—perhaps they are not quite the same point. If one were arguing that,"““promoting access to the countryside and open spaces””," was also still of paramount importance to Natural England, that would carry more weight. However, I am worried that, as the amendment is drafted, this business of encouraging and enabling people to enjoy what is there and to be enriched by it could be put at a disadvantage. Therefore, I urge those behind the amendment to go away and think again and perhaps to come back with more appropriate wording. The noble Baroness referred to the Lake District National Park and the consequences of financial arrangements for the future. As president of the Friends of the Lake District, I am obviously as concerned about the matter as anybody; I am perturbed by what could follow from this financial decision. However, I believe that it is incumbent on all of us who carry direct or indirect responsibility for these affairs to make sure that our arrangements are in such good order that the best possible use can be made of the money that is made available. I also note that any reduction in forward funding is in the context of considerably increased funding over recent years. We have to keep these issues in perspective. I draw the attention of the noble Baroness to the very example that she quoted as an indication of the consequences for people who are trying to encourage access and enjoyment. That is what the national park authority is about. What is worrying are the consequences for its ability to fulfil that purpose if any financial cuts are to be made. Therefore, I suggest that she did not present a very good argument to back up the otherwise commendable objective that I think is at the centre of her preoccupation. I believe that—and I am sorry to put it like this—the amendment has not been well drafted. I suggest that, if the principle is to be furthered, those behind the amendment might go away and think again about what they are trying to say.