---

Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

My Lords, I support my noble friend in what he is trying to do. I was a little surprised in Committee that we did not get a fuller response, so I am grateful to him for bringing the matter back again today. What he is calling for in the amendment is to have a greater involvement of local communities and a better understanding of how one can develop or plan or evolve in a more biodiverse concept. I know the temptation from the Minister’s point of view would be to suggest that if one involves too many people it would take time and that there would be delays on planning and other matters. However, a little bit of forethought in the first instance can bring greater awards at later stages. I, too, raise the question, as I did in Committee, whether the proposal involves a financial commitment. I do not see it—and I do not think that my noble friend is moving it in that way; if he is, he may comment on my comment anyway, when he speaks again at the end. But any development that involves local authorities with biodiversity and in how they can help constructively is something that we can support in any case.