Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Bill Wiggin (Conservative). It was answered on Thursday, 2 November 2006 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Marine Bill

Question: Why has the Secretary of State not been able to answer the question asked by the hon. Member for Sherwood (Paddy Tipping)? We were promised this complex Bill by the Prime Minister in 2004; we were promised it again in a Labour party conference document; the Government promised it again as part of DEFRA’s five-year strategy; and in the 2005 legislative programme we were promised a draft Bill in this Session. Yes, it may be complex, but the climate change Bill will also be complex. Why will we not see the draft marine Bill? When will the Secretary of State promise the House that we will see it? Will it even be in the coming Queen’s Speech?

Answer: I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman has taken that attitude, because most Members realise that in this complex area—this is the first legislation to have to engage with devolutionary issues—it is important that we get things right. The consultation has received serious responses from a range of organisations. I do not know whether the Conservative party—[Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman says from a sedentary position that we have been thinking about it. We have been not only thinking about it but talking to experts in the field and making sure that we build a durable consensus on what the legislation should contain. I make no apology for taking the time to get this right. It is important that the legislation stands the test of time. It is right that we are proceeding carefully, on the basis of consultation, because that means that we will have better legislation. I should have thought that the sensible thing for the Opposition to do was to congratulate us on that.

Secondary information