Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

I thank Members of the Committee who have taken part in the debate, particularly for the general support that the amendments seemed to attract from the noble Earl, Lord Cathcart. I thank the Minister for his reply, which was helpful in allowing a greater expansion on some of the ideas about what will happen when the authorities are constituted. I share the concern expressed by my noble friend Lord Tyler that there is a lot of uncertainty and apprehension—from not only fishing communities but environmental interests—that there could be an imbalance one way or the other. What was said should give some reassurance, but often to have something set down gives even more reassurance, particularly as there is a category in subsection (1)(c) of "other persons", which is mighty wide. I was going to say that it covers a multitude of sinners; that is probably unfair, as I am sure that they are people of great virtue and ability. I also take the Minister’s point that those appointed from Natural England or the Environment Agency would almost inevitably have a scientific background. To that extent, the important point made by the noble Earl, Lord Cathcart, is met. I think that the Minister is seized of the issue of "communities", and if he has an opportunity to reflect on it before we return to it, perhaps there is a way in which that can have expression in the Bill. The Interpretation Act says that the singular embraces the plural, but in this case the sensitivities are somewhat greater than the reassurances allowed for in that Act.