COMMONS AMENDMENTS (Hansard, 19 October 1981)

§ The Earl of Avon
My Lords, I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in the said amendments. These are technical amendments which are required as a result of the amendments made to Clause 12 and Schedule 7, to which the House has already agreed. I beg to move.

§ Lord Melchett
My Lords, very briefly, may I simply reiterate the thanks which have already been expressed during previous stages of the Bill in particular to the noble Earl, Lord Avon, and to the noble Earl, Lord Ferrers, who took part in some of the earlier debates on amendments. To the qualities which have been noted in the noble Earl, Lord Avon, I think we must add a remarkable speed in dealing with amendments towards the end of the Bill, for which I am sure not only I but many other noble Lords are extremely grateful. I am very grateful to him for the courtesy and kindness with which he has dealt with the very many points that have been raised by myself and by my various noble friends at different stages of the Bill. I have the feeling that, had it been up to the noble Earl, we should have had a much better Bill than we actually have, but the fact that it is a better Bill than it was when it was introduced is certainly in no small part due to his efforts. We are very grateful to him.

§ The Earl of Avon
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Melchett, for what he has said. I have been learning throughout this session on the Wildlife and Countryside Bill, and think I have learned quite a lot from the noble Lord opposite.