Member

We will come on to talk about Natural England and its contribution, role and capability. I know that the Government have made additional resources available before the income that will come from EDPs comes on stream, but there are some genuine concerns about whether we are going to see the creation of an additional level of bureaucracy, uncertainty for developers as to the likely cost of any EDP levy, and the time it will take to get regulations in place under this Act. It is not a question of whether Natural England has enough people, it is whether it has enough of the right people and the scientific calibre to move away from what I see as a bureaucratic and tick-box exercise to a sensible and proportionate approach.