Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

I am grateful to the Minister for dealing so comprehensively with this group, but I cannot say that I am wholly satisfied. I listened with care to what he said about consultation that is already taking place, but I have to tell him that at least some stakeholders, particularly those who are members of the Wildlife and Countryside Link’s marine task force, are not satisfied that this clause is sufficient to deal with exemptions. I hear what he says about the intentions, but intentions are not as cast iron as a clause dealing with this issue. I will read with care what the Minister has said, and my noble friends and I will look at this again. On confidentiality, I ask the Minister whether between now and Report he will be kind enough to look again at what seems to be just as good a precedent, if not a better one: Regulation 12(5) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, from which I quoted. That is more comparable to the situation that we are addressing and would be a better precedent for this. In the mean time, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment A14 withdrawn. Amendments A15 to A18 not moved.