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Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

My Lords, I, too, support my noble friend’s amendment. I was as disappointed as my noble friend when on Report the Minister referred to the key element of sustainable development. In fact, I would refer to the previous sentence of the Minister’s speech. The Minister said that climate change has a,"““wide-ranging agenda and one in which, frankly, Natural England would not be the lead player””.—[Official Report, 15/3/06; col. 1273.]" So who is the lead player? Many departments are covered. With Natural England established, clearly Defra should be not just a key player, but the leading player. If it is not, perhaps the noble Lord will tell us who is. What discussions or arrangements have been made with other government departments? We do not want climate change to be manhandled between one department and another when, clearly, Natural England, with its new responsibilities, will be at the forefront of this. I obviously support my noble friend Lord Dixon-Smith. He referred to the management of coastline. Even now, Southwold, in East Anglia, which I know quite well, is spending millions of pounds on improving its coastal defence plan. That is the situation now. With estimates of additional hazards of climate change, surely the Government cannot take—I wanted to say ““lackadaisical””, but that is not quite the right word—such a negative attitude to the very important crisis that is facing us and will continue to face us.