---

Welsh Zone (Boundaries and Transfer of Functions) Order 2010

I thank my cousin for that intervention, and I am only sorry that my other cousin here today, my noble friend Lord Livsey, has to leave us or he would be leading on this order. The order specifies the boundaries of the Welsh zone and brings certain functions that deal with fishing, fisheries and fish health under the control of Welsh Ministers. As part of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, the Welsh Assembly Government wanted to bring fisheries functions in-house under the control of Welsh Ministers, hence the establishment of the Welsh zone under the 2009 legislation. It makes sense for Wales to have a zone and so bring it in line with Scotland and Northern Ireland. We on the Liberal Democrat Benches welcome the new powers over fisheries for the Welsh Assembly Government and want to see them work well. The order makes the boundaries of the Welsh zone clear, and I welcome that. Again, I am grateful to the Minister for giving us such a lucid explanation of what is involved, and to the team backing him on this order. The boundaries of the Welsh zone have been negotiated between the UK Government and the Welsh Assembly Government. Welsh Ministers will be able to exercise all the functions they need within the zone, so it is very much a tidying-up exercise rather than the transfer of new powers. We understand why the boundaries of the zone were left to an order, but perhaps I could ask, first, if any consideration was given to transferring these functions as part of the 2009 Act? Secondly, are the Government sure that they have transferred all the functions referring to Wales to the Welsh zone? Has anything somehow been left out of the transfer? The Explanatory Memorandum states that the Welsh Assembly Government are confident that the creation of the Welsh zone will not weaken the UK position in European Union fisheries matters. We agree, but have any procedures been put in place for cross-governmental working to ensure that the Welsh voice is heard, and heard loudly, at the European level? My final question is this: will additional resources be allocated to the Welsh Assembly Government to enable them to carry out their new responsibilities? Other than those questions, we welcome the order.