Member

Amendment 283A put forward by the noble Lord, Lord Blencathra, proposes to increase the minimum period for public consultation on an EDP from 28 to 40 working days. The Bill already includes provision for the Secretary of State to specify a longer period of public consultation on a draft EDP in regulations. The 28-working day period specified in the Bill is therefore the minimum period that can be allowed. With that assurance that the consultation period in the Bill is a floor, not a ceiling, I hope the noble Lord, Lord Blencathra, will agree not to press his amendment.