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Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

There is one point about which I still feel a little uneasy. We have reserved matters in the offshore area, particularly the Northern Irish and Scottish offshore areas, over oil, gas and, as I mentioned, coal. If the United Kingdom Administration wished to see some of these elements developed, we are saying that at the moment the devolved Administrations could put a stop to these things through refusing planning. Perhaps the fact that it is checked by the Secretary of State might overcome that, but it is an area that would have to be watched very carefully. It is very easy to say that planning is devolved totally to the peripheral Administrations, and they could prove to put a total stop to any exploitation of the matters that are retained.