New Clause 4
Commons Bill [Lords]
2:45 pm
Paddy Tipping (PPS (Rt Hon Jack Straw, Secretary of State), Foreign & Commonwealth Office; Sherwood, Labour)
I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.
By virtue of the nature of our work, we have spent a lot of time talking about the legislative framework of the Bill. I am worried that, because we have focused on that, we have not debated in great detail the vehicle that will drive the Bill’s important aims forward. As many members of the Committee have said, Commons Bills do not come often and the whole point of this Bill is to improve our common land.
My new clause, which is supported by my hon. Friends the Members for Stroud and for Pudsey (Mr. Truswell) is straightforward. Its aim is to place a duty on Natural England to bring forward three proposals, the first of which is to promote the formation of statutory commons associations. Throughout our discussions, there has been a recognition on both sides of the Committee that that will not be easy. People will hesitate to take the step to move from a voluntary association to a statutory association. They will need help, guidance and support. On Tuesday the Minister recognised, as he has done today, the importance of Natural England in such matters. His words were preceded by the comments of Lord Bach in the other place, who was talking strongly about how Natural England needs to be involved in the creation of statutory commons associations.
The second aim of the Bill is to promote the well-being of common land, which is why we have spent two days talking about improving common land and ensuring that SSSIs come up to status.
The third aim, which we have debated widely, is a laudable objective in itself. It is to promote more town and village greens. Research shows that people care about their local communities and environments. The creation of new village and town greens will not happen by itself. I want Natural England to be involved. It is a new body with a whole range of tasks before it. It faces a difficult period in being set up. I want Natural England to know that the Bill is important, and I want it to have the power to make sure that we have statutory commons associations, common land is in good condition and that we move radically and quickly towards the formation of new town and village greens.