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Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

moved Amendment No. 356:"Page 40, line 36, at end insert—" ““(   )   Crown land may be sold to a community trust for the purposes of benefiting the public interest.”” The noble Baroness said: This amendment is concerned with Crown land, because the Crown owns the seabed. My amendment is simply designed to elicit some information from the Minister. Suppose a community wanted to construct a tidal lagoon. I believe that, as it is set up now, the Crown is obliged to seek the highest possible price for any licence. So if a community interest company wanted to construct such a thing, would this provision be able to be waived or would we have to change primary legislation? I believe that as tidal power and other things that may involve the seabed become more viable—as they are—communities may well develop an interest. The acquisition of a licence from the Crown is a considerable expense and it would be useful to think that the necessity to gain the highest price possible is a provision that might be waived in favour of communities. I beg to move.