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Commons Bill [Lords]

I accept the hon. Gentleman’s point. This could be an ultimate longstop. The threat of a local council running a common might produce an order double quick. I do not think that we can build that into legislation. I do not have a strong view on this point; I wish to hear what the Minister says. The amendment may be a step too far at this stage. There are many excellent provisions in the Bill. I am worried about the extent of the briefing that we have received from English Nature. It seems to think that it will be fully in charge of things. Its covering letter gives the impression that it will be running everything on the commons. I accept that it has wonderful skills. We have commons worth protecting, but not because English Nature invented them 200 years ago. The great, great grandfathers of today’s commoners created the wonderful commons that are worth protecting. I am loth to give additional powers to local authorities that are not entirely knowledgeable in this area. There, I rest my case.