Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

The noble Lord, Lord Greaves, seeks to impose a requirement that the MMO in its annual report to the Secretary of State on the discharge of its functions should include the steps it has taken to deliver its general objectives, in particular to further sustainable development. I hope that I can reassure the noble Lord that the general objective of the MMO as defined in Clause 2 is inextricably linked to the discharge of its functions in that they have to be exercised in a manner that is consistent and co-ordinated, and with the objective of making a contribution to the achievement of sustainable development. Any organisation producing an annual report on its activities will necessarily set those activities in the context of its general objective, and to do otherwise would be to obviate the need for an overall objective. This will be no different for the MMO. The noble Lord, Lord Greaves, is seeking an amendment to the standard procedures for a non-departmental public body for presenting its annual report to Parliament. As is normal, the body concerned needs to report and be accountable through the Secretary of State to Parliament. The MMO is being set up to deliver functions on behalf of the UK Government. Some of those functions may be matters relating to the implementation of EU or international obligations which would require the MMO to take a co-ordinating role on behalf of the UK Government. In such cases, we would expect the MMO to undertake consultation with whoever would be affected throughout the UK area, and to include such matters as necessary in its report. So in all cases it would be appropriate for the MMO to report to this House and the other place. The noble Lord, Lord Taylor, seeks to impose an additional requirement that the MMO in its annual report to the Secretary of State on the discharge of its functions should include the objectives it is setting for the forthcoming financial year, together with a business plan, and to include information on whether it has met its objectives for the year. In addition, a time limit would be placed on the production of the annual report to within 12 months. Any organisation producing an annual report on how it has discharged its functions must necessarily include information on whether its objectives have been met. This will be no different for the MMO. In addition, the MMO will be expected, as are other organisations, to prepare a business plan and a corporate plan for publication. These documents will be made available to the House, as they are for other such organisations. Should the Secretary of State perceive a need for any additional information from the MMO, Clause 27 places a duty on it to provide him with such information as he may reasonably require relating to the carrying out of its functions or its responsibilities generally. Such information is to be provided in the form or manner required by the Secretary of State, who may also require additional explanations. On timing, we would expect an annual report to be produced well within 12 months of the year end, and we will make clear in guidance to the MMO that that is our expectation.