Clause 88 - Application of civil law to renewable energy installations etc.
Energy Bill [Lords]
3:45 pm
Mrs Anne McIntosh (Shadow Minister, Environment & Transport; Vale of York, Conservative)
We have had an interesting debate. Let me return to the confusion that I created in the mind of the hon. Member for Angus. The Minister must know that if an individual, or Parliament as a body, is to respond to a consultation, the consultation document has to be addressed to that individual or body so that they are aware that it exists. It is clear that the document was not directly addressed to any of the shipping interests that are deeply concerned by the clauses—identified by my hon. Friends in the other place—that the Government now seek to remove.
The Government are compounding their mistake by failing to consult the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the British fishing and marine industries, the major ports group and others who might have an interest. Those might not be among the contracting organisations to which the Minister referred, but they could have interests that run counter to those covered by the clause. My suggestion was intended to be helpful. I hear what the Minister says, and hope that he will be willing to be corrected when we come to discuss why the shipping interests were not consulted. We would be hard pressed to find any section of the fishing industry that was formally consulted and invited to respond to the consultation. Having made those points, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Clause 88 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clauses 89 and 90 ordered to stand part of the Bill.