---

Commons Bill [HL]

My Lords, it might interest the Minister to learn that I spent two hours of my Sunday discussing this very matter with the voluntary association of commons in Wales. It supports a clause of this kind being inserted in the Bill, because it does not have the power to create a federation, nor does the Welsh Assembly. It is very difficult to achieve. The benefits of statutory commons will not be accessed unless an overarching body in which voluntary associations will be able to participate exists. That is the problem. That is why we have put forward this amendment, which might assist the voluntary commons associations. Although they are participants from the grassroots upwards, they desire this kind of amendment to enable them to gain the benefits of a statutory commons association without all the problems of bureaucracy that they would face as very small voluntary commons associations. At present, they cannot participate, nor do they want to for those very good reasons. This amendment might assist them. I hear what has been said in this debate, and I hope that a model of this kind is a constructive contribution to it.