Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

The noble Baroness raises a number of important points. I am sure there is no intention on the Government’s part to produce inconsistent policies, but with so many departments involved and different marine policy statements and national policy statements being produced, it would be extremely surprising if Ministers did not occasionally feel that their desired outcomes did not mesh as well as they had hoped with statements already produced. I am in a slight muddle and I need clarification. The Defra document, A Strategy for promoting an integrated approach to the management of coastal areas in England, says on page 12: "““The UK Marine Policy Statement,””—" in the singular— "““to be agreed by Government departments and the Devolved Administrations, will articulate our joint vision and objectives””." It seems to say there is going to be just one marine policy statement, one document, for all the devolved powers. The dilemma is that Clause 42 refers to marine policy statements, which confuses me. The Minister also talked about marine policy statements on the last amendment, which makes you think, ““Hang on, there is going to be more than one””. Then you wonder whether they will be like national policy statements, where there will be 12 or 15—one for renewable energy and one for airwaves, et cetera. So I am afraid that I am slightly confused. It is probably my fault and it probably is crystal clear to other Members of the Committee, but I am afraid not to me. I should like clarification on that. Will the Minister please give the Committee a little more detail on how he envisages the statement or statements being produced? Will they be drafted in the separate departments and circulated to others for approval? How will the different departmental responsibilities be resolved where the statements overlap, bearing in mind that at least six government departments are involved in the marine area? Any contradiction between marine policy statement or statements will, I hope, be spotted by the MMO before any real confusion is caused. Where marine policy statements interlink with national policy statements, the results could be more damaging. I hope that the Government will consider carefully the noble Baroness’s amendment.