Clause 29
Commons Bill [Lords]
12:00 pm
Roger Williams (Shadow Minister (Rural Affairs), Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Brecon and Radnorshire, Liberal Democrat)
I believe that the issues with which we shall deal in this and the following clause will determine whether the statutory associations succeed. If there is any doubt about the support that the Minister has for the Bill, especially from commoners themselves, it arises from these issues, so if he could supply the draft documents that would be good. The hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy is a known magician, and the way in which he produced the documents out of a hat on that occasion was extraordinary and well up to his usual standards.
I hope that there will be consultation on the standard constitution before the regulations are made, because people would like to be involved, and consultation would give them confidence that their interests are being looked after. I have no doubt that there will be many amendments to the standard constitution, because the nature of commons is extraordinarily varied. For example, I have only to look to the common of Llangors lake in my constituency, which is entirely composed of water, and over which there are no rights at all, unless one can walk on water. I do not even think that the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 applies to that common, and I assure the Committee that there are no rights of piscary. Yes, there will be amendments to the standard constitution, but that standard constitution will be the basic document, and people must have confidence in it.