---

Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

moved Amendment No. 308:"Page 24, line 31, leave out subsection (4)." The noble Duke said: This is a probing amendment. I understand from the wording of the Bill that if the broads authority, in conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, etc, of the broads, incurs extra expenditure above and beyond that required to protect the navigation interests, it must find the money otherwise than through the 1988 Act that set up the authority. What does that mean practically? Will the authority be allowed to raise income from visitors by, for example, levying car parking charges or requiring walkers to buy an annual licence; or will it have to indent for a precept from local homeowners? Or will that fall under the Part 10 financial provisions—at the end of page 41—where,"““there is to be paid out of money provided by Parliament . . . any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable by virtue of any other Act””?" It appears that that last possibility is negated by Clause 60(4), but where does the Bill allow that to take precedence over Clause 98? I beg to move.