Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

I am most grateful to all noble Lords who have taken part in the debate on this grouping. It has indeed been very wide-ranging. Part of the problem has been the regrouping of amendments in order to try to save time. Many amendments were put together, hence the wide-ranging debate. I am grateful to the Minister for what he said about boatyards and yacht clubs. I understand that most of their concerns have been covered. The Minister said that where they were not covered, he would look into it: I am grateful for that. As far as concerns port development land, I appreciate that my amendment was widely drawn. However, as with the amendment of the noble Lord, Lord Geddes, we are referring to land possibly for the extension of a container berth, not necessarily to the reams of derelict port land referred to by the noble Lord, Lord Crickhowell. That can be developed for residential or other purposes, and the path easily rerouted around it. It is not necessarily a problem. Reading between the lines, it is obvious at the moment that Natural England would like the path, if possible, to go across land that in future may be required for port development. Nevertheless, a lot of land alongside ports comes into other categories that are also of concern, such as wetlands and mudflats, so development may be impractical. We will have to see what happens. There should be no problem in moving a path—it is fairly easy to construct—if land is required for another purpose and there is provision for that. I am grateful to the Minister and beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment A270 withdrawn. Amendment A271 not moved.