§ 94 Clause 37, page 34, line 40, after 'beauty' insert or amenity'.
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 94. The new "Sandford" clause in the Bill, "Duties of Agriculture Ministers", provides a special mechanism. A local planning authority in an area where the Sandford clause applies may object to an application for a MAFF capital grant on the ground that the activities to be grant-aided have adversely affected, or will adversely affect, the natural beauty or amenity of the countryside. If the Minister of Agriculture then refuses the grant, the local planning authority must offer the applicant a management agreement under Clause 37 of the Bill. Clause 37 permits management agreements to conserve natural beauty or flora and fauna, but the word "amenity" which appears in the Sandford clause does not appear in it. Amendment No. 94 therefore adapts it to the Sandford situation by adding the word "amenity", and local planning authorities will thus have the power to offer management agreements which fit the nature of any objection they may make to a farm capital grant application under the Sandford clause.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said amendment.—(The Earl of Avon.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.