Clause 46
Commons Bill [Lords]
2:30 pm
Elfyn Llwyd (Parliamentary Leader; Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, Plaid Cymru)
I support the hon. Gentleman’s final comments. He is probably right in saying that, in a way, this is a stand part debate. I should hope that, in view of my sickening sycophancy towards you this morning, Mr. Weir, you will permit me to take two minutes of your precious time.
I fully support the point that the hon. Gentleman made about reserve power, because as the clause is currently framed it deals simply with breaches in agricultural practice. As we have mentioned many times during the debates on Tuesday and today, there is a great concern about non-agricultural transgressions, that is, the damage all round that motorcycles and 4x4 vehicles do to agricultural interests and the natural, living environment. One hopes that the Minister will consider this point carefully and respond, because there is surely a good cause for making the clause a general reserve power for the Minister, not just confining it, as is the case at present, to unauthorised agricultural activities. We have been urged to take this course of action by the National Farmers Union, the National Sheep Association and the Welsh Commoners Association, to which I am indebted for telling me about it.