Member

There is precedent and a direct parallel in what the Bill seeks to do and what is already in legislation. In the habitats regulations of 2017, Regulation 64 relates to “Considerations of overriding public interest”—in effect, if something is deemed a priority, what are the steps before proceeding to build large infrastructure projects on a protected site? Which body is named as essential and must be consulted, and whose opinion must be heeded, before a decision is taken? It is the JNCC. I hope that this amendment will give great reassurance to people countrywide who are rightly concerned about some of the rhetoric that is heard when species are singled out for attack. It would provide both Natural England and the Government with some parameters to work with. It would strengthen the legal basis for introducing an EDP only where there is a good-use case for one, to prevent Ministers and Natural England wasting their time developing an EDP when it simply does not make sense or when it would probably ultimately be deemed unlawful. I beg to move.