Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

Amendment 89BZA 89BZA: After Clause 49, insert the following new Clause— ““Marine plan for Scottish offshore region (1) Subject to subsection (2) below, Scottish Ministers may incorporate in any marine plan for the Scottish offshore region a duty on every public body and office-holder, in exercising any functions, to further the conservation of biodiversity so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions. (2) The duty to further the conservation of biodiversity referred to in subsection (1) above shall only be incorporated in a marine plan for the Scottish offshore region in pursuance of legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament empowering Scottish Ministers to do so. (3) It shall be competent for the Scottish Parliament to pass legislation to further the conservation of biodiversity in the Scottish offshore region. (4) For the purposes of this section, ““public body and office-holder”” has the meaning given in the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6).””