Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

The noble Duke asks about marine conservation zones. The devolved Administration will become the planning authority for the relevant offshore region, but that will be under a form of executive devolution. The noble Duke is right to say that marine plans will be subject to agreement by the Secretary of State before they can impact on decisions across the breadth of marine interests. The Scottish Administration will also become the designating authority for marine conservation zones in the offshore region. Again, those proposed designations are subject to agreement by the Secretary of State. The noble Duke put that point fairly and I have answered it as clearly as I can. As for licensing, the Scottish Administration already license offshore marine developments, but not oil and gas; the Scottish Administration will not be able to veto oil and gas decisions.