Clause 97 - Commencement
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill
12:00 pm
Jim Knight (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Rural Affairs, Landscape and Biodiversity), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; South Dorset, Labour)
The amendments make two small adjustments to relevant Department names and add one new important subsection to the commencement clause. Amendment No. 155 was tabled at the request of the Northern Ireland Administration, and simply changes the Department in Northern Ireland to be consulted by the Secretary of State when commencing the measures in part 2 reconstituting the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
Similarly, amendment No. 156 requires the Secretary of State to consult the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of the Environment before commencing provisions in schedules 11 and 12 that affect Northern Ireland only.
I mentioned amendment No. 157 when we discussed the rights-of-way provisions. This additional measure covers regional commencement, allowing the Secretary of State to commence the rights-of-way provisions earlier in some areas. That approach follows a precedent in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. On that basis, I urge hon. Members to accept the amendments.
Amendment agreed to.
Amendments made: No. 156, in clause 97, page 40, line 10, after 'Development', insert
'and the Department of the Environment'.
No. 157, in clause 97, page 40, line 13, at end insert—
'( ) An order under this section may make different provision for different purposes or different areas.'.—[Jim Knight.]
Clause 97, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clauses 98 and 99 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the Chairman do report the Bill, as amended, to the House.