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Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

I am pleased that the Minister understands our motivation and purpose so well, and I thank him for that full reply. I do not think I will be alone in being pleased with much of what he has said. This has been a useful debate. We were probing the way that the Government saw the priority to be given to research. As the Minister knows, we are keen to keep the MMO, particularly its scientific expertise, at the heart of the Bill. When my noble friend Lady Carnegy made her point, I felt that we were back to the core issue of the enabler versus the provider that we get in so much legislation. That is a key part. Sometimes I suspect that the Minister is with us but has to draw back a little from a wholehearted commitment to the MMO. It would be good if we could ensure that the MMO’s position was clear.