Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

I am grateful to the noble Lord for introducing the amendment. We had considerable debate on sustainable development when we discussed Part 1 and the Marine Management Organisation and indeed when we discussed marine policy statements in Clause 42. In our previous Committee discussions we debated at length the amendments of the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, to Clause 42. I expect that just as she was concerned that there was consistency between the marine policy statement and between geographical areas, she is concerned here that the statement of sustainable development set out in the marine policy statement may be inconsistent with that set out in the regional plans drawn up by the planning authorities. It is clear that the marine policy statement must contain a statement of how those participating administrations’ policies will contribute to the achievement of sustainable development of the UK marine area. Clause 49 requires that a marine plan should similarly state those policies in connection with the area for which that plan is prepared. This gives me an opportunity to outline how marine plans are intended to operate at the regional level. They will help crystallise and implement the broader policy aims set out in the marine policy statement. The marine plan authorities may prepare plans for their particular plan areas. The Secretary of State can plan for English regions, the Scottish Ministers can plan for the offshore Scottish region, the Welsh Ministers can plan for the Welsh inshore and offshore regions and the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland can plan for the Northern Ireland offshore region. I do not think that there should be a risk of inconsistencies between the regional plans and the marine policy statement. Plans will have to be in accordance with the marine policy statement which will govern marine planning. There are a number of incentives in the Bill for plan authorities to draw up plans that will be agreed by the Secretary of State and that will deliver the holistic marine planning that everyone in the Committee wants to see. I have no doubt that the Secretary of State would not agree to plans which showed incompatibility with the marine policy statement. It is important for marine plan functions in Clause 49 to be allowed to be operated either at a regional or sub-regional level. As marine plans will relate only to a particular area, it is appropriate that they state sustainable development policies for that area. Broader linkages either to sustainable development across UK waters as a whole, or the plan authorities policies as a whole, are for the marine policy statement, which will be agreed by the policy authorities together. Clause 42 requires the marine policy statement to state general policies for contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in the UK marine area. Given the obligation to state general policies in Clause 42 and policies in relation to plan areas in Clause 49, I think that we have met the objectives which the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, sought to emphasise in the amendment in relation to sustainable development. I hear what the noble Lord says in relation to the territorial authorities, but he will recognise that the Bill legislates on the marine authorities and the responsibility in those areas. Of course, he is right that the whole sustainable policy has to be taken in the round, but what I have identified, in particular in Clauses 42 and 49, is the comprehensive nature of the demand on the general policies for marine development to be based on the necessity for sustainable development. I hope, with that assurance, that he will feel able to withdraw his amendment with confidence.