Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

I am grateful to the Minister for her response. I rather assumed—although I may be assuming wrongly and she will probably correct me—that if such an emergency needed to be dealt with in a hurry there would be powers within the Government to deal with it. I had not seen my amendment as delaying anything or making it difficult if urgent action were needed. Certainly, as far as other areas of the Bill are concerned, we are increasingly worried about the powers being gained by the Secretary of State and that is why we tabled the amendment. However, there is clearly a difference of opinion and the hour is getting late. I will think about the matter further and I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 38 agreed to. Clause 39 agreed to. Clause 40 [Duty to conserve biodiversity]: