Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

The Question whether this clause shall stand part takes us to the part of the Bill that envisages the Secretary of State giving grants to Natural England. Clause 14 says:"““(1) The Secretary of State may make grants to Natural England of such amounts as the Secretary of State thinks fit.""(2) A grant under this section may be made subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State thinks fit””." The purpose of the Motion to oppose the Question whether Clause 14 shall stand part of the Bill is to explore how independent the clause renders Natural England. On the previous Committee sitting we said that Natural England was very important; certainly the Liberal Democrats accept that it is. We also said that it should be able to give advice to which Ministers across government must pay due regard. I tabled the relevant amendment to that effect, and the Government have not yet fully accepted the case for it, although I live in hope that they will reconsider. Irrespective of whether they do so, there is still the question of the independence of Natural England if it is reliant on handouts from the Secretary of State. What happens if future Ministers are not happy with the advice that Natural England gives? I accept that that is not the case with present Ministers, but we are drafting legislation for the future, and a future Minister may hold views that we could not even envisage at present. Should we make Natural England so reliant on grants, which could be withdrawn at any time or be made subject to conditions with which that body was not at all happy? I submit that that renders Natural England far from independent.