Clause 197
Marine and Coastal Access Bill [Lords]
4:30 pm
Richard Benyon (Shadow Minister, Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Newbury, Conservative)
I entirely accept what the Minister says. However, the fact remains that, given that the industry has these very serious concerns, even if we were to approve these amendments today in Committee, that would not speed up the ability of shellfisheries elsewhere in the country to get those several rights. That will happen at Royal Assent. Consequently, we can sort this matter out on Report, everybody can feel that they have been consulted and unless I am missing something—I admit that I am relatively a new boy to this House—it can be resolved in exactly the same time scale as it would be if we accepted these amendments today.