Clause 318
Marine and Coastal Access Bill [Lords]
12:00 pm
Ann McKechin (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Scotland Office; Glasgow North, Labour)
The amendments provide for the early commencement of the provisions in part 3 on marine planning relating to the preparation and publication of a statement of public participation concerning the involvement of interested parties in the development of the marine policy statement. The amendments will enable us to publish the statement of public participation as soon as we have Royal Assent, rather than waiting for a further two months.
As Members will be aware, the marine policy statement will be the first stage of the new marine planning system. Marine plans have to be in conformity with it, so as to ensure a joined-up, UK-wide approach. We wish to publish an MPS as soon as possible, and to be able to consult on it by early spring of 2010. To do so, we need to ensure that the formal consultation procedures set out in the Bill can be carried out as soon as possible.
Before we can issue the MPS for consultation, we need to issue a statement of public participation, which will set out how we propose to involve interested persons throughout the UK in preparation of the MPS, including a proposed timetable for consultation. It is important that we allow a reasonable period between the issue of the statement of public participation and the consultation draft of the MPS. We wish to give interested parties as much notice as possible of when and how we will consult on the draft MPS, which will enable them to plan ahead for making representations and attending any public meetings about the consultation draft.
Currently, part 3 of the Bill is not commenced until two months after Royal Assent. As Committee members will realise, the final stages of consideration of the Bill will not be until after the summer recess. Therefore, subject to parliamentary approval, Royal Assent is not expected before the end of October at the earliest. That means that the statement of public participation will not be issued until towards the end of December 2009 or the beginning of 2010, which would mean a limited time for preparation.