Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

I am grateful to the Minister for that response and for the way in which he addressed the issues. One question that my amendment raised but to which I did not speak was about the devolved authorities in Northern Ireland and Wales. I have no wish to tangle with the noble Lord, Lord Livsey, on that issue. As the Minister recognised, the purpose of my amendment was to enhance the authority of the MMO and to put it into the Bill in this area. I suspect that this is likely to be a bit of a running argument throughout the Bill. We know from the early stages of our proceedings on the Bill that the Minister was keen to vest in the MMO the authority that he manifested in the speech that he just gave. However, we are not entirely sure why there is a certain withdrawal at this point in the Bill. If it is the Government’s intention to vest the authority of the Secretary of State and the planning authority for England in the MMO, why do they not say so in the Bill? What circumstances could arise in which the MMO was not the capable body? If the MMO performs badly as an executive function, that will need to be addressed by the Government. The powers vested in the MMO will have to be exercised in some way or another through some body or another, and that body needs to be the MMO, as the Government have clearly decided. I find it hard to understand why they draw back from putting that into the Bill at this stage. It would enhance the authority that the Government are seeking to vest in the MMO. From this Bench our view is that, if we want adequate authority from that body, we should make it clear that it has the full authority of legislation. We may well return to the issue—I am sure that we will find that it comes up at other points throughout the Bill—but I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 90 withdrawn. Amendment 90ZA not moved. Clause 53 agreed. Clause 54 agreed. Clause 55: Directions to public bodies as regards performance of delegated functions Amendment 90ZB not moved. Clause 55 agreed. Clause 56: Decisions affected by marine policy documents Amendments 90ZC and 90A not moved.