§ 78 Clause 32, page 30, line 26, leave out 'Countryside'.
§ 79 Clause 32, page 30, line 28, leave out from 'which' to 'is' in line 29 and insert 'comprises a limestone pavement'.
§ 80 Clause 32, page 30, line 31, leave out that Council or that' and insert 'the Council or the'.
521§ 81 Clause 32, page 30, line 32, leave out from 'the' to 'the' in line 33 and insert 'local planning authority in whose area'.
§ 82 Clause 32, page 30, line 34, leave out county planning' and insert 'relevant'.
§ 83 Clause 32, page 30, line 39, after 'orders', insert '(in this section referred to as a "limestone pavement order")
§ 84 Clause 32, page 30, line 42, leave out 'orders under this section' and insert ' limestone pavement orders'.
§ 85 Clause 32, page 30, page 31, line 1, leave out 'county planning' and insert relevant'.
§ 86 Clause 32, page 30, line 2, leave out 'an order under this section' and insert 'a limestone pavement order'.
§ 87 Clause 32, page 30, line 9, leave out 'an order under this section' and insert 'a limestone pavement order'.
§ 88 Clause 32, page 30, line 17, after 'granted' insert 'on an application'.
§ 89 Clause 32, page 30, line 18, leave out from '1971' to end of line 20 and insert 'or Part III of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972'.
§ 9.8 p.m.
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 78 to 90 en bloc. I am sure that your Lordships will welcome these amendments, which improve and extend the protection to be afforded to limestone pavements by means of orders made under Clause 32. As some noble Lords, and in particular the noble Baroness, Lady David, and the noble Lord, Lord Beaumont of Whitley, were particularly concerned about the continued application of the general development order which would allow farmers to use limestone for agricultural purposes, and many—and in particular my noble friend Lord Caithness—were also concerned that the term "limestone pavement orders" should be used clearly to identify the orders, the Government gave further consideration to these questions and found that, in practice the removal of the "agricultural exemption" in the general development orders would not prove to be as much of a burden to farmers as they expected. There are very few circumstances in which farmers are likely to need freshly quarried limestone from protected pavement.
Provision is made for orders to be applied to limestone pavements in Scotland, as well as in England and Wales and that is the effect of Amendment Nos. 78, 80, 81, 82, 85, 89 and 90. The exemption for agricultural use of limestone has been removed. However, farmers will, if necessary, be able to apply for planning permission to use limestone from a protected pavement. That is the purpose of Amendment No. 88 and part of No. 89.
I am also glad to say that the term "limestone pavement order" has been inserted in the Bill and a definition has been added to make it clear that orders may be applied only to limestone pavements and not to other areas of exposed limestone. Amendments Nos. 79, 83, 84, 86, 87 and part of 90 do that. I beg to move.
§ The Deputy Speaker (Lord Aberdare)My Lords, I think there is an amendment to Amendment No. 90, so perhaps I may put Amendments Nos. 78 to 89 en bloc.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said amendments.—(The Earl of Avon.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.