Schedule 19
Marine and Coastal Access Bill [Lords]
1:45 pm
Hugo Swire (East Devon, Conservative)
The retention of sub-paragraph (3)(a) raises a question about why, if the Secretary of State has so little faith in an independent appeals body, he bothers to have one at all. If he wants to decide all these matters himself, why does he not just strike out the appeals body and make decisions himself based on each and every representation? It seems to be pretty straightforward. An independent appeals body, the decisions of which, in exceptional circumstances, the Secretary of State could overturn—but only with good reason—will give comfort to landowners and land users alike. That is where the final decision in any arbitration should take place. In order to reassure all land users, the Minister should agree that our amendment is a positive step towards a solution.