Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

The purpose of this amendment and Amendment A275, with which it is grouped, is to probe the meaning of "the relevant functions" of Natural England and the Secretary of State as they are set out in Clause 286(8). The Bill states that National England and the Secretary of State must exercise "the relevant functions" in order to achieve the two objectives of the coastal path and the coastal margin land. "Relevant functions" is defined, both in relation to Natural England and the Secretary of State, as being functions under the 1949 Act, the CROW Act and the Bill. It then states in relation to Natural England, ""such of its other functions as it considers it appropriate to exercise for the purpose of securing the objectives in subsections (2) and (3)"," which are the two objectives of the coastal route and the coastal margin land. There is then a similar paragraph which provides that the Secretary of State’s other functions can be used as the Secretary of State considers appropriate. I am trying to probe what "other functions" means. Does it mean other functions that are specifically reserved to Natural England or the Secretary of State in legislation, or does it mean any legislation that the Secretary of State, in particular, might like to invoke on behalf of the Government? In what circumstances would the "other functions", which are not set out here, be necessary? I am trying to probe what seems to be a wide power which may have unintended consequences. I beg to move.