Clause 197
Marine and Coastal Access Bill [Lords]
4:00 pm
Andrew George (St Ives, Liberal Democrat)
So that I can better understand the background, I would be grateful if the Minister could clarify that the Crown estate is answerable to the Treasury and to Parliament and that, under the 1961 Act, one of its primary objectives is to produce a surplus for the Treasury. Does that not create a potential conflict between two separate Government Departments, one of which is there to create financial surpluses for the Government, while the other surely seeks to maintain the responsible management of the marine resource? There is a clear conflict between two Government Departments, and I do not understand how the Minister’s proposals are going to resolve it.