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90 Page 31, line 20, at end insert—
'(6) In this section—
the Commission" means the Countryside Commission in relation to England and Wales and the Countryside Commission for Scotland in relation to Scotland;
limestone pavement" means an area of limestone which lies wholly or partly exposed on the surface of the ground and has been fissured by natural erosion;
the relevant authority" means the county planning authority in relation to England and Wales and the authority exercising regional planning functions in relation to Scotland.'.
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, I beg to move Amendmend No. 90.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said amendment.—(The Earl of Avon.)
§ As an amendment to Amendment No. 90:
§ 90A* Line 10, leave out ("regional") and insert ("district").
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, this amendment would place the function of making limestone pavements orders in Scotland on authorities exercising district planning functions. This is desirable because in Scotland authorities exercising district functions are responsible for day-to-day planning controls, including minerals. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the amendment to the amendment.—(The Earl of Avon.)
§ Lord MelchettMy Lords, as we are coming to the end of the limestone pavement amendments, may I just say what I know my noble friend Lady David would wish to say; namely, to thank the Government very much for the significant improvements in the Bill, albeit affecting a very small area of the country. I am sure that the major loophole in the protection of limestone pavements, which was there when the Bill left this House, has now, to a large extent at least, been closed and we are grateful to the Government for that.
Lord WinstanleyMy Lords, I echo those sentiments. The noble Earl will recollect that I involved myself substantially in these limestone pavement amendments, and I too am grateful to see what has happened as a result.
§ On Question, amendment to the amendment agreed to.
§ On Question, Motion, as amended, agreed to.