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Commons Bill [HL]

I support my noble friend Lord Rotherwick in bringing forward these two groups of very important amendments. I hope the Government will feel sympathetic towards them. My noble friend has explained clearly the reasons why he has brought them forward. It would greatly improve the Bill if they were added to it. My noble friend referred to over-grazing but, in some cases, under-grazing also takes place. He has also highlighted the difficulty in balancing economic stability and the needs of tourism and visitors. The amendments reinforce the debate we had earlier in regard to the importance of commons associations being flexible. In some areas, one set of precedents might be important but not so important in others. I support my noble friend’s amendments.