Member

I now turn to Amendment 85A, 88B and 88C, tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Goodman. Amendment 85A seeks to implement the recommendations of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee’s report that all regulations made pursuant to the provisions inserted by Clause 26 be subject to the affirmative procedure. Amendments 88B and 88C would make it explicit in the Bill that the forestry authorities are required to obtain ministerial consent only for significant projects and would provide a definition of “significant”. The Government thank the members of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee for their scrutiny of these provisions and for the vital role they play. We also understand and recognise the importance of parliamentary scrutiny. We are currently considering the committee’s recommendations and will provide a government response in due course.