Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

I thank the Minister for that response and for his good-natured tolerance of the discursive nature of our debate. This has been perhaps the most important issue that we have discussed in Committee today. Unresolved, I think that it will continue to trouble us throughout the Bill, as it lies at the heart of so many of the other amendments that we are to consider in the future. It has been a good debate, not only making a formidable critique of the current wording of the Bill, but exposing, if I might quote my noble friend Lady Byford, the wooliness with which the Minister has tried to deal and has attempted to firm up. The debate has also exposed that there are subtle differences in various noble Lords’ positions. It does the Bill and your Lordships’ House credit that we are honest about these things but, notwithstanding that, there is a need to return to this wording. I hope that the Minister will accept that. I listened very carefully to what the Minister said. At one point, he used the phrase, ““does not quite capture””. The general objective should be a source of inspiration; it is ““the vision thing””, as we are so often told. The Minister rather encouraged me by using the phrase, ““the wording at the moment””. I hope that it is possible to return to this matter—