Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

The noble Lord is absolutely right. I assure him that we will ensure that does not happen. I am not sure that I can give him the specifics as regards the financial years in which this will all occur. That depends on achieving the required timing, how that will be managed and various elements relating to staff transfers. However, as I said, we have indicative one-off set costs of £7.2 million; £2.9 million to set up the MMO; £2.1 million for staff costs; and £4.3 million to set up a new geographic information system over three years. The £2.9 MMO set-up costs is an indicative figure informed by those incurred in the setting up of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, the Marine and Fisheries Agency and Natural England, and differs slightly from the £3.7 million that appeared in the impact assessment which accompanied the draft Bill. This is because that figure included Defra staff costs incurred in setting up a new NDPB which we have since been advised should not be included. I think the point is made that we all want the MMO to be resourced to do the job. We want it to work as efficiently and effectively as possible. Where functions have been transferred, there will be a consequent reduction in the budgets of the parent department. I can give the appropriate affirmation in that regard, but clearly there will also be these initial set-up costs.