Clause 45
Marine and Coastal Access Bill [Lords]
11:45 am
Huw Irranca-Davies (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine and Natural Environment), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Ogmore, Labour)
No, the MMO will always have cognisance of what is happening in border areas with other authorities. As the hon. Gentleman will know and as was debated in the other place, in Wales many of the MMO’s functions have been taken directly into the Welsh Assembly Government, as was their wish. However, the MMO will need to integrate fully. If there is a fundamental breakdown beyond the powers that already exist in the Bill, there is, under the Government of Wales Act 2006, recourse to the powers of the Joint Ministerial Committee, and so on.
The clause makes it clear that only one MPS can exist at any time; that is the good way forward on this issue. Therefore, when we introduce a new MPS it will replace the previous one, thus avoiding the possibility of multiple, potentially conflicting statements.
The hon. Member for St. Ives is absolutely right to say that we want to move forward together—that is the big win within the Bill—but there is the possibility for the Secretary of State to take action himself.