§ 5.54 p.m.
§ Order of the Day read for the consideration of Commons Amendments.
§ LORD CRATHORNEMy Lords, I beg to move that the Commons Amendments be now considered. If it is convenient to your Lordships, I think it might save time if I explained the Amendments now, and then, if your Lordships think fit, vie might take these minor Amendments en bloc.
Amendment No. 1 is a new subsection to Clause 3. It provides for the service of notice upon an owner and 858 occupier of land where the verderers intend to erect fencing, in pursuance of subsection (6), in order to limit the area which is unfenced or inadequately fenced. Notice of objection may be given to the verderers and there is also a right of appeal to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. I think that this is an improvement to the Bill.
The other Amendments are purely formal. Amendment No. 2 proposes new words to correct a clerical error. Amendment No. 3, to Clause 10, proposes new words to correct a grammatical error. Amendments Nos. 4 and 5, which deal with the expense clauses of the Bill, are necessary because, in theory, the increase in expenditure to which the Bill gives rise could be reflected in rate-deficiency grants and Exchequer equalisation grants under enactments relating to local government in Scotland, as well as in England and Wales. That is the effect of the Amendments on the Order Paper.
§ Moved, That the Commons Amendments be now considered.—(Lord Crathorne.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.