Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

My Lords, I have to say that I feel even less reassured now. The comments of the noble Lord, Lord Cameron, about the behind-the-scenes work and the necessity to stamp your feet and make a fuss behind the scenes to bring about change underlines my argument about why we need to reinforce democracy and have those sorts of discussions in public. The Minister answered some of my queries and was therefore helpful. Nevertheless, if the Affordable Rural Housing Commission comes along and has meetings in your area and then the Commission for Rural Communities, which is also very concerned about rural housing, comes along and does the same, people in that area will be entitled to ask what all these different commissions are and how they relate to each other. Therefore, I am sorry to say that, in one way, the contributions this evening have underlined my arguments. I assure your Lordships that if the hour were not so late, I would have tested the opinion of the House on this matter, but I recognise that this is not the moment to do so. I shall not return to this issue because I recognise that these Benches have lost this argument for now. In conclusion, I extend my personal best wishes to the staff and the commissioners who are to take on this task, even though, in legislative terms, I wish that they were not going to exist. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Schedule 2 [Commission for Rural Communities]: