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Flood and Water Management Bill

My Lords, before the Minister responds to that very powerful contribution, I would like to add my pennyworth to Amendment 63 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Cameron. He has drawn very careful and important attention to the potentially draconian powers that the responsible authority holds. The Bill is worded such that it suggests that the authority may refuse to give consent "only on the ground" that the proposal, ""would affect a flood risk or a coastal erosion risk"." But if you think about it, just about anything will have an impact on coastal erosion or on flood risk. Therefore, to get an element of scale into this, it is of fundamental importance to demonstrate that overriding considerations might also be taken into account. I hope that the Minister will respond favourably to Amendment 63 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Cameron.