Clause 27
Commons Bill [Lords]
5:30 pm
Roger Williams (Shadow Minister (Rural Affairs), Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Brecon and Radnorshire, Liberal Democrat)
Our amendment is the same as that tabled by the hon. Gentleman, although it is directed at a different place in the Bill. As he said, it emphasises the difference between active and inactive commoners. Many people with rights do not exercise them and it seems wrong that their views should be of equal weight to those who do exercise their rights. If the management of a common is to be altered as a result of the formation of the statutory body—the association—it is the people who are grazing the common who should enable that change to take place, either by reducing the number of stock on the common or increasing it. Inactive grazers are unlikely to be encouraged to put stock on the common as a result of the formation of a statutory body.