The Minister mentioned that the compulsory purchase powers did not need to be included in the Bill. Is that because he can access those powers through other legislation, or because he does not envisage compulsory purchase by the agency involved?

The Minister mentioned that the compulsory purchase powers did not need to be included in the Bill. Is that because he can access those powers through other legislation, or because he does not envisage compulsory purchase by the agency involved?

I beg to move amendment (a) to the Lords amendment.

I beg to move amendment (a) to the Lords amendment.

I, too, would be interested to hear the Minister’s reply to the points raised by the hon. Member for South-East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Paice). Generally, we support these amendments, which we find helpful, but I wonder whether they will cover the thousands of sites and notices already in existence before the...

I, too, would be interested to hear the Minister’s reply to the points raised by the hon. Member for South-East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Paice). Generally, we support these amendments, which we find helpful, but I wonder whether they will cover the thousands of sites and notices already in existence before the...

: I am also happy to support the amendments, with which we broadly agree. There is a contrast between the provisions for the inspectors’ powers and the Government’s previous stubbornness on what is now the Animal Welfare Act. They resisted the cause of my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes...

: I am also happy to support the amendments, with which we broadly agree. There is a contrast between the provisions for the inspectors’ powers and the Government’s previous stubbornness on what is now the Animal Welfare Act. They resisted the cause of my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes...

Just to assist the hon. Gentleman and others, we have put some guidance on this in the Library to help people to interpret what is, I agree, extremely complicated legislation.

Just to assist the hon. Gentleman and others, we have put some guidance on this in the Library to help people to interpret what is, I agree, extremely complicated legislation.

During Lords Committee, we were asked to consider whether any guidance that is published by the Secretary of State should be published ““contemporaneously”” with the issuing of it. We could not accept that wording, but could not argue with the principle. We believe that there should be a degree of...

During Lords Committee, we were asked to consider whether any guidance that is published by the Secretary of State should be published ““contemporaneously”” with the issuing of it. We could not accept that wording, but could not argue with the principle. We believe that there should be a degree of...

I am grateful to the Minister for his comments and we mostly welcome this group of amendments. The Minister, and other hon. Members who have taken an interest in this part of the Bill, will know that it has probably caused the most angst, especially the issue of the date...

I am grateful to the Minister for his comments and we mostly welcome this group of amendments. The Minister, and other hon. Members who have taken an interest in this part of the Bill, will know that it has probably caused the most angst, especially the issue of the date...

Does the Minister agree that the designation of the Yorkshire Dales national park also ought to include a good youth hostel? Will he consider giving some assistance to the youth hostels in the Yorkshire dales that are about to close?

Does the Minister agree that the designation of the Yorkshire Dales national park also ought to include a good youth hostel? Will he consider giving some assistance to the youth hostels in the Yorkshire dales that are about to close?

Before I speak to the first group of amendments, I would like to thank peers in the other place, particularly Baronesses Byford and Miller and my colleague, Lord Bach, for their hard work on the Bill since it left the House. They have continued to take a constructive and collaborative...

Before I speak to the first group of amendments, I would like to thank peers in the other place, particularly Baronesses Byford and Miller and my colleague, Lord Bach, for their hard work on the Bill since it left the House. They have continued to take a constructive and collaborative...

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

The hon. Gentleman is right to correct me. I hope that we can prevail on Ministers to do as he suggests. The amendments show clear proportionality in examining the code of practice, which we greatly welcome, and limiting the ground for entry to property to search for proscribed pesticides in...

The hon. Gentleman is right to correct me. I hope that we can prevail on Ministers to do as he suggests. The amendments show clear proportionality in examining the code of practice, which we greatly welcome, and limiting the ground for entry to property to search for proscribed pesticides in...

I am grateful to the Minister for saying that he has put the guidance in the Library. I hope that he will put it elsewhere as well; otherwise it will not be much use to most people. I understand and appreciate his point, but it does not detract from my...

I am grateful to the Minister for saying that he has put the guidance in the Library. I hope that he will put it elsewhere as well; otherwise it will not be much use to most people. I understand and appreciate his point, but it does not detract from my...

Will the Minister deal with the point about the appeal that has been lodged? Why do we need to have legislation now, before the appeal has been dealt with?

Will the Minister deal with the point about the appeal that has been lodged? Why do we need to have legislation now, before the appeal has been dealt with?

The hon. Gentleman is right that we need clear guidance. I shall not pursue my amendment but we have raised the matter and the Under-Secretary has put his position on it on record. We welcome the group of amendments, which has taken us a long way from where we started....

The hon. Gentleman is right that we need clear guidance. I shall not pursue my amendment but we have raised the matter and the Under-Secretary has put his position on it on record. We welcome the group of amendments, which has taken us a long way from where we started....

Liberal Democrat Members also support the amendments—consensus is clearly breaking out—and I join the Minister and the hon. Member for South-East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Paice) in stating that the Lords have done an excellent job. Lords amendment No. 1 is particularly welcome, because it brings consultation with local communities into the...

Liberal Democrat Members also support the amendments—consensus is clearly breaking out—and I join the Minister and the hon. Member for South-East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Paice) in stating that the Lords have done an excellent job. Lords amendment No. 1 is particularly welcome, because it brings consultation with local communities into the...

The powers have never been used by the Countryside Agency. We have been convinced that it is not necessary for Natural England to take them forward. Amendment No. 19 and the consequential amendments Nos. 34 and 64 add national park authorities to the list of authorities eligible for financial support...

The powers have never been used by the Countryside Agency. We have been convinced that it is not necessary for Natural England to take them forward. Amendment No. 19 and the consequential amendments Nos. 34 and 64 add national park authorities to the list of authorities eligible for financial support...

I endorse the Minister’s remarks about the work done in the other place. That is a first class example of the value of the other House, and the knowledge and diligence that peers apply to our legislative process. The Bill is considerably improved since it left this place, largely through...

I endorse the Minister’s remarks about the work done in the other place. That is a first class example of the value of the other House, and the knowledge and diligence that peers apply to our legislative process. The Bill is considerably improved since it left this place, largely through...

With the leave of the House, I should like to respond as best I can to the points that hon. Members have raised. In response to the question from the hon. Member for South-East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Paice), the use of the word ““failure”” is technically right. If a conservation body...

With the leave of the House, I should like to respond as best I can to the points that hon. Members have raised. In response to the question from the hon. Member for South-East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Paice), the use of the word ““failure”” is technically right. If a conservation body...

When the Minister talks about cartographical discrepancies, I hope to God that he is not talking about the Rural Payments Agency; otherwise there would be so many denotifications and renotifications that we would be here for ever. That organisation seems to be completely incapable of getting its digital mapping correct....

When the Minister talks about cartographical discrepancies, I hope to God that he is not talking about the Rural Payments Agency; otherwise there would be so many denotifications and renotifications that we would be here for ever. That organisation seems to be completely incapable of getting its digital mapping correct....