Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

My Lords, my amendments in this group do not follow the same line as that of the noble Lord, Lord Wallace of Tankerness, but are instead, we hope, a way forward that will address many of his concerns. Although we have great sympathy with the conservation groups’ concerns that IFCAs genuinely understand and support their new conservation duties, we appreciate the Minister’s alarm that the careful balance that they are trying to strike will be thrown off kilter. We have therefore sought a wording that will reassure stakeholders that the balance will be met, and so have fallen back on "sustainable development", which is fast becoming the automatic answer to all questions. I think we can agree that sustainable development is—as much for IFCAs as for the MMO—the desired end result. Users of the sea cannot be allowed to exploit the marine environment unrestrained, nor can conservation bodies demand that all development be stopped. This is widely accepted. This group of amendments tries to make it clear that the balance will be struck within the boundaries of sustainable development. The multiple nature of the amendments in my name represents the development of our thoughts and the very welcome involvement of the Minister, his officials and parliamentary counsel half way through, which resulted in Amendments 121ZA, 121ZB and 121ZC. The more detailed amendments include the very useful requirement that sustainable development is defined by guidance which is to be made publicly available. We therefore hope that the three amendments in this group standing in my name and that of the Minister will satisfy all concerns. I thank the Minister and his officials for being so helpful in this matter. I pay especial tribute to my noble friend Lord Kingsland, who first struck upon the answer of tying the IFCA duty into sustainable development.