Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

As is currently the case with English Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service, Natural England needs to have powers to give grants to customers, the most obvious example being farmers who are part of the environmental stewardship scheme. Clause 6 is not limited to financial grants alone. Natural England will be able to provide assistance to customers and stakeholders in the form of grants, equipment and goods. This, together with the advisory powers in Clause 4, and powers to provide training in Clause 10, will leave Natural England, we believe, well placed to deliver its purpose through others with the freedom to provide assistance through the most appropriate means for any given situation. Amendment No. 156 would require Natural England to publish details of all those—and there could be many—who receive financial or other assistance from Natural England. On reflection, we believe that this requirement would be unduly onerous and could potentially require much effort to cover some relatively insignificant financial assistance which could be given to large numbers of people. There are already legislative mechanisms in place under the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 to ensure that where reasonable requests are made for this type of information then, subject to a few narrowly construed exceptions, information is made available. Amendment No. 156 would appear to be aimed primarily at payments made to persons in connection with matters relating to the environment. It would be covered, therefore, under the heading of environmental information and, subject to very limited exceptions, be disclosed under the 2004 regulations. On the basis of the reassurance I have attempted to give, I hope that the noble Baroness will withdraw the amendment.