Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

I do not think that anything that my colleague wrote in that report is at all inconsistent with the aim in the Bill that the Marine Management Organisation should contribute to sustainable development. Wearing my Defra hat, I am delighted that the noble Baroness is so enthusiastic for my department. However, she will know that—it is the very reason for the MMO being established, as noble Lords from her Front Bench have said—inevitably there are tensions. The MMO’s job is to resolve those tensions within the overall construct of the legislation, the marine policy statement and the guidance given by the Secretary of State. That is an entirely reasonable position for us to be in.