Investigating the Oceans

Thank you, Mrs. Winterton, for your stewardship of this debate. In time-honoured tradition, I congratulate the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis) on securing it and on his excellent introduction. He pointed out my wide-ranging portfolio interests, all of which are significant, whether British waterways and canals, fisheries negotiations, national parks, and so on. I come here today as marine champion, a role that was demanded in the report by what the hon. Gentleman referred to as a defunct Committee, but it is living on through its legacy, which is why we are here today. I shall explain how I intend to live up to that role of marine champion, and I hope that I am doing so. I shall try to avoid the necessity of writing to hon. Members by responding to as many points as possible, but if there are any issues that I do not address, I invite them to intervene as we have some time available. I am encouraged that marine science continues to be a top priority for hon. Members, and I welcome this opportunity to revisit the excellent report "Investigating the Oceans", which the then Select Committee on Science and Technology produced, and the Government's response to it. It has been a year since my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs gave evidence to the Committee. He said that we would establish a UK Minister with responsibility for marine science, and I am here today in that capacity. In that role, I am chair of the ministerial marine science group, which oversees the new Marine Science Coordination Committee, as well as being the champion for marine science. I say that humbly and proudly. We have today touched on many of the issues, including fisheries, climate change, what the Maritime Management Organisation will do, marine planning and strategy across the seas, and our international obligations. All must be underpinned by the best available science, whether it is in England, Wales or Scotland, or internationally. A week ago I spent two days with our Norwegian colleagues, which was illuminating because they face many challenges. They also rest on the gulf stream and face some of the same developmental challenges and changes in a multiplicity of use on the seas and in the marine environment. There is also an issue of sharing, not only the science, but the best knowledge of how to move forward. I will be working with the ministerial group to monitor delivery of the strategy, and to find solutions when problems and gaps are identified and require ministerial intervention to make progress. I may be a humble, junior Minister, but I come from part of the political world in south Wales with a pedigree for doggedness, determination—