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Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

My Lords, I thank noble Lords for their sympathy, if not their votes. I apologise to the noble Lord, Lord Howarth, for inadvertently threatening to sink Amendment 111 on the historical or archaeological significance of sites. I also thank the noble Baroness, Lady Miller of Chilthorne Domer, for quite rightly pointing out that the draft guidance is couched in rather more weasel tones than the briefing notes, which the Minister has just endorsed. I am grateful to him for endorsing the briefing notes and I shall continue to remind him of that endorsement for many years to come. I look forward to hearing the opinions of any person, as outlined in his support, if not for the amendment, for the sentiment by the Minister. I am sure that many people will want to give opinions. Indeed, the process that the Minister described of regional and national groups involving all interests and bringing forward proposals for marine conservation zones—