Public Bodies Bill [HL]

Natural England has been very keen to comment at certain stages of the legislation and the noble Lord is quite right to single it out. What I said was ““comment on legislation””; I did not say that they were not in a position to comment on those areas of their responsibility. Of course, Governments set these bodies up with the idea of seeking their advice on these matters, but Governments have to have the responsibility for bringing legislation before the House and it is for Parliament to advise the Government through its procedures on what it thinks of the Government’s legislation.