---

Commons Bill [HL]

My Lords, I am not sure whether I will be in a position to deal with the noble Duke’s question, but I will seek to do so. I can reassure the noble Duke and the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, that when determining a deregistration and exchange application the national authority will consider the effect of the exchange on each of the interests set out in subsection (6), and take into account any other relevant factor. That will inevitably involve careful consideration of exactly the sort of issues that both the noble Duke and the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, have referred to—the extent to which replacement land is a suitable substitute for release land. I hope these assurances will help. On special protection for rights of owners, landowners of both release and replacement land make the applications, so they will always have their interests protected because they are involved in that process. I hope that will reassure the noble Duke and that the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, will now feel confident in withdrawing his amendment.