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Commons Bill [HL]

We are not able to favour the request contained in the amendment to put the sort of representation that the noble Baroness seeks on a formal, statutory basis. Having said that, if there were a statutory consultation exercise involving the public about the matter to which she refers, an association could make a contribution to any proposals which may affect their area. I note the noble Baroness’s point about issues to do with certain areas, but we do not know where the associations will be formed. A commoners association, if it is established in a coastal area, may not be representative of all the interests in that area or, more broadly, all the users of the common. Therefore we would be concerned about making it statutory as a consultee. With the assurance that were there to be a statutory public consultation they would be able to make representations, I hope the noble Baroness will feel able to withdraw the amendment.