Perhaps the Minister will clarify a couple of things for me. As I understand it, the Scottish Parliament will not legislate for the Scottish offshore area. It will not have powers of legislation; it will just have executive devolution. Do I understand from that and from what the Minister said...

Perhaps the Minister will clarify a couple of things for me. As I understand it, the Scottish Parliament will not legislate for the Scottish offshore area. It will not have powers of legislation; it will just have executive devolution. Do I understand from that and from what the Minister said...

I am sure that we are all grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Wallace, and other noble Lords for allowing us to have a discussion about some interesting devolution matters. Before I respond to the amendments, I will say a little about the general principles that govern where we are....

I am sure that we are all grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Wallace, and other noble Lords for allowing us to have a discussion about some interesting devolution matters. Before I respond to the amendments, I will say a little about the general principles that govern where we are....

I, too, support Amendments 74 and 76 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Wallace of Tankerness. It is appropriate to make it absolutely clear in the Bill that there are areas where the Secretary of State, in issuing guidance, should consult bodies and institutions such as those that...

I, too, support Amendments 74 and 76 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Wallace of Tankerness. It is appropriate to make it absolutely clear in the Bill that there are areas where the Secretary of State, in issuing guidance, should consult bodies and institutions such as those that...

I am grateful to those who supported the amendment. I do not think that I doubted for a moment that the Government had not taken into account existing treaties and I am pleased with the assurance from the Minister that they are covered by the existing wording. I beg leave...

I am grateful to those who supported the amendment. I do not think that I doubted for a moment that the Government had not taken into account existing treaties and I am pleased with the assurance from the Minister that they are covered by the existing wording. I beg leave...

I am grateful to the Minister for his response to this probing amendment. I am not entirely sure that I have totally taken on board the reasoning. It gives considerable flexibility and powers and usually the Minister is rather keen to avoid too much flexibility in such legislation. I should...

I am grateful to the Minister for his response to this probing amendment. I am not entirely sure that I have totally taken on board the reasoning. It gives considerable flexibility and powers and usually the Minister is rather keen to avoid too much flexibility in such legislation. I should...

I can do more than that. I can send the noble Lord a copy of Managing Public Money, Her Majesty's Treasury’s guidance to departments, which states: "““The Government can provide loan finance to public sector bodies through the national loans fund and departmental estimate””." It is a riveting stuff.

I can do more than that. I can send the noble Lord a copy of Managing Public Money, Her Majesty's Treasury’s guidance to departments, which states: "““The Government can provide loan finance to public sector bodies through the national loans fund and departmental estimate””." It is a riveting stuff.

Amendment 35 deals with directions and guidance by the Secretary of State. I refer specifically to the directions part. Subsection (2) reads: "““The Secretary of State may also give the MMO such general or specific directions as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for the implementation of any obligations of...

Amendment 35 deals with directions and guidance by the Secretary of State. I refer specifically to the directions part. Subsection (2) reads: "““The Secretary of State may also give the MMO such general or specific directions as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for the implementation of any obligations of...

Clause 35: Directions by the Secretary of State Amendment 73 73: Clause 35, page 18, line 3, after first ““of”” insert ““, or compliance with,””

Clause 35: Directions by the Secretary of State Amendment 73 73: Clause 35, page 18, line 3, after first ““of”” insert ““, or compliance with,””

I have some sympathy with the noble Earl and I look forward with interest to the Minister’s response. We have a great deal of sympathy with what the noble Lord, Lord Greenway, said on the amendment. However, since brevity is the soul of wit, I can be even briefer than...

I have some sympathy with the noble Earl and I look forward with interest to the Minister’s response. We have a great deal of sympathy with what the noble Lord, Lord Greenway, said on the amendment. However, since brevity is the soul of wit, I can be even briefer than...

I am almost lost for words, not—I hasten to add—having listened to the noble Lord’s amendment, but because my speaking note is extremely brief. It is one line which says, ““This all seems fairly sensible and uncontroversial. Stand up and support””, so here I am. Before I support the amendment,...

I am almost lost for words, not—I hasten to add—having listened to the noble Lord’s amendment, but because my speaking note is extremely brief. It is one line which says, ““This all seems fairly sensible and uncontroversial. Stand up and support””, so here I am. Before I support the amendment,...

I am grateful to noble Lords who have spoken. The intention behind the amendment is to clarify that the directions could apply to existing EU and international obligations as well as future commitments as there has been concern that the concept of implementation could be construed as applying only to...

I am grateful to noble Lords who have spoken. The intention behind the amendment is to clarify that the directions could apply to existing EU and international obligations as well as future commitments as there has been concern that the concept of implementation could be construed as applying only to...

I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Greenway, that there is a slight ambiguity in the drafting of the clause. It would be good to clear it up to make quite sure that it refers to existing treaties as well as new ones.

I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Greenway, that there is a slight ambiguity in the drafting of the clause. It would be good to clear it up to make quite sure that it refers to existing treaties as well as new ones.

I support the principle behind the amendments. It is quite correct to say that the Joint Committee foresaw the MMO as being the guardian of scientific research and knowledge relating to the sea and the distributor of that knowledge. I shall be very interested to hear what the Minister has...

I support the principle behind the amendments. It is quite correct to say that the Joint Committee foresaw the MMO as being the guardian of scientific research and knowledge relating to the sea and the distributor of that knowledge. I shall be very interested to hear what the Minister has...

This has been a short but interesting debate. I am in no doubt whatever of the view of the Committee of the need for high-quality science and research to be a critical part of the work of the MMO and for its decisions to be evidence-based and embracing what research...

This has been a short but interesting debate. I am in no doubt whatever of the view of the Committee of the need for high-quality science and research to be a critical part of the work of the MMO and for its decisions to be evidence-based and embracing what research...

I am a little concerned by the phrase in Clause 23(2), which makes, "““research available to any person on request””." There may be circumstances when ““any person”” is not someone you want to know about it. The subsection does not refer to British interests or commercially sensitive information. It seems...

I am a little concerned by the phrase in Clause 23(2), which makes, "““research available to any person on request””." There may be circumstances when ““any person”” is not someone you want to know about it. The subsection does not refer to British interests or commercially sensitive information. It seems...

Looking at the drafting, the noble Lord has raised an important point. The intention clearly is that the research should be made available, but should not be contrary to an agreement about data confidentiality. I will take that back and look at it to ensure it is as tight as...

Looking at the drafting, the noble Lord has raised an important point. The intention clearly is that the research should be made available, but should not be contrary to an agreement about data confidentiality. I will take that back and look at it to ensure it is as tight as...

I have listened to the Minister’s long and comprehensive answer but I wonder how this will work on the ground. The University of St Andrews is the UK centre for research on sea mammals, including seals, which, as we know, have an effect on fisheries—so this is important. How will...

I have listened to the Minister’s long and comprehensive answer but I wonder how this will work on the ground. The University of St Andrews is the UK centre for research on sea mammals, including seals, which, as we know, have an effect on fisheries—so this is important. How will...

It is not easy to give a one-line answer to that. It will depend on the research being considered, and the surrounding circumstances. For instance, research will become publicly available that the MMO, along with anyone else, will be entitled to use. Equally, there may be gaps in the research...

It is not easy to give a one-line answer to that. It will depend on the research being considered, and the surrounding circumstances. For instance, research will become publicly available that the MMO, along with anyone else, will be entitled to use. Equally, there may be gaps in the research...

I congratulate my noble friend on taking us back to the debate about the relationship between the Marine Management Organisation and the Infrastructure Planning Commission, and the relationship between marine planning statements and the MPSs that will come through because of changes in the Planning Act 2008. I hope that...

I congratulate my noble friend on taking us back to the debate about the relationship between the Marine Management Organisation and the Infrastructure Planning Commission, and the relationship between marine planning statements and the MPSs that will come through because of changes in the Planning Act 2008. I hope that...

I was extremely pleased by what my noble friend said in response to the question of the noble Lord, Lord Kingsland. I applaud the importance and status that has been given to the MMO. However, am I right in believing that the status of the MMO will be sufficient to...

I was extremely pleased by what my noble friend said in response to the question of the noble Lord, Lord Kingsland. I applaud the importance and status that has been given to the MMO. However, am I right in believing that the status of the MMO will be sufficient to...