Clause 319
Marine and Coastal Access Bill [Lords]
12:15 pm
Huw Irranca-Davies (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine and Natural Environment), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Ogmore, Labour)
On a point of order, Mr. Gale. I thank the Committee for its deliberations, which have been a model of forensic analysis and focus. I particularly thank the peers in the other place and want to mention the unfortunate death in the past few days of Lord Kingsland, who was a significant contributor to their deliberations. His wide and exacting knowledge, as well as his role as chair of the Plymouth marine laboratory, helped significantly. I want to pass on the regards of my team and the Committee to Lord Kingsland’s family.
May I also take this opportunity to thank the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, North? Our partnership has been worthy of Monty Panesar and James Anderson’s last-wicket partnership for the England and Wales cricket team. It has been a sterling effort. I also thank my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland, who has been like a twelfth man coming on to the pitch in times of trouble. It has very much been a team effort. I thank all members of the Committee for their constructive and thoughtful contributions throughout the debate. I particularly thank the hon. Members for Newbury and for St. Ives for their significant contributions.
It is worth recording the efforts of the expert, dedicated and enthusiastic Bill team who support me when I get into trouble, which is quite often. I also want to pass on my regards to those described by what the hon. Member for Newbury refers to as a horrible S-word—stakeholders, not socialism—who have lobbied us, and will continue to do so, for their energetic engagement with both the marine and coastal access parts of the Bill. One person whom I have not previously mentioned, but who is worth recalling, is the former chair of Natural England, Sir Martin Doughty, who was a committed advocate of the Bill. I think he will be gently smiling down on us.
Thank you also to the Committee Clerks for their work and to the Serjeant at Arms and the police for maintaining order on this riotous Bill over the past few weeks. Not least, Mr. Gale, I thank you and your colleague, Mr. Pope, for your careful stewardship of what, I think, has been a very good Committee on a Bill that was very good when it entered here and that leaves even better.