Clause9
Commons Bill [Lords]
11:15 am
Jim Knight (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Rural Affairs, Landscape and Biodiversity), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; South Dorset, Labour)
The clause effects a prohibition on the severanceof rights of commons with the exceptions set out under schedule 1. Theclause ensures that a right of common that is attached to land is notto be permanently severed from that land, as we have been discussing.Severance means that the local link between the commoners and the landover which the grazing rights are exercised might be lost since theowner of the rights can sell them to anyone, including farmers who livefar away from the common. That can cause management difficulties forcommon land when some rights holders have no close contact with thecommon and those who manage it. There is overwhelming support fromstakeholders for a prohibition on severance under theBill.