My Lords, I suppose I ought to congratulate the Minister on the good intentions expressed in the White Paper. After all, good intentions are better than nothing, although we all know where the path of good intentions can lead. A White Paper that is not backed by any bank directives...

My Lords, I suppose I ought to congratulate the Minister on the good intentions expressed in the White Paper. After all, good intentions are better than nothing, although we all know where the path of good intentions can lead. A White Paper that is not backed by any bank directives...

I am grateful to all noble Lords who have spoken in this debate. Having been accused of some interesting ploys this evening On one occasion I sailed safely between the viewpoint of the Official Opposition and that of the Liberal Democrat Party and on another I accepted the argument of...

I am grateful to all noble Lords who have spoken in this debate. Having been accused of some interesting ploys this evening On one occasion I sailed safely between the viewpoint of the Official Opposition and that of the Liberal Democrat Party and on another I accepted the argument of...

I am grateful to all Members of the Committee who have spoken to this interesting group of amendments, which has raised some important issues. Amendment A267D raises a matter of considerable principle. If we accepted the amendment, it would mean that we would not necessarily have an objective to establish...

I am grateful to all Members of the Committee who have spoken to this interesting group of amendments, which has raised some important issues. Amendment A267D raises a matter of considerable principle. If we accepted the amendment, it would mean that we would not necessarily have an objective to establish...

I am grateful to the noble Lord: he has struck a deal. That is all I have to say.

I am grateful to the noble Lord: he has struck a deal. That is all I have to say.

I am grateful to all Members of the Committee who have spoken in a wide-ranging debate on this group of interesting amendments. It will come as no surprise to Members of the Committee that I will reply first to the noble Duke, the Duke of Montrose. Anyone who is kind...

I am grateful to all Members of the Committee who have spoken in a wide-ranging debate on this group of interesting amendments. It will come as no surprise to Members of the Committee that I will reply first to the noble Duke, the Duke of Montrose. Anyone who is kind...

Noble Lords will appreciate that I hesitate to engage in a debate in which any noble Lord can think of an establishment that is next to the coast and challenge me on how the coastal path would cope with the requirements of that economic or social enterprise. I was shying...

Noble Lords will appreciate that I hesitate to engage in a debate in which any noble Lord can think of an establishment that is next to the coast and challenge me on how the coastal path would cope with the requirements of that economic or social enterprise. I was shying...

That and related issues need to be addressed. Safety is important. As the noble Lord, Lord Greenway, identified, small working dockyards and marinas may contain heavy equipment and a great deal of activity goes on. People need to be aware of that. It may be inappropriate for a path to...

That and related issues need to be addressed. Safety is important. As the noble Lord, Lord Greenway, identified, small working dockyards and marinas may contain heavy equipment and a great deal of activity goes on. People need to be aware of that. It may be inappropriate for a path to...

The noble Lord will have listened with the same care that I did to the part of the debate which the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, initiated on parks and gardens. The noble Baroness, Lady Byford, identified the Committee’s views on that. A range of significant views exist on a number...

The noble Lord will have listened with the same care that I did to the part of the debate which the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, initiated on parks and gardens. The noble Baroness, Lady Byford, identified the Committee’s views on that. A range of significant views exist on a number...

I understand that point, of course. We have to consider the economic development of the nation and how we plan ahead. However, I am seeking within the framework of the Bill not to accept an amendment that would be too restrictive on its purposes, when our recent history indicates why...

I understand that point, of course. We have to consider the economic development of the nation and how we plan ahead. However, I am seeking within the framework of the Bill not to accept an amendment that would be too restrictive on its purposes, when our recent history indicates why...

I hear what the noble Duke says. He knows that we have no intention of ploughing arbitrarily through people’s gardens and that that is not the legislation’s intent. However, he will also be aware that the constraints surrounding the concept of the coastal path can present real issues with regard...

I hear what the noble Duke says. He knows that we have no intention of ploughing arbitrarily through people’s gardens and that that is not the legislation’s intent. However, he will also be aware that the constraints surrounding the concept of the coastal path can present real issues with regard...

There is a phrase that strikes fear and dread into any Minister who has to give the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, a sensible answer that he will accept. That might test me quite a long way. Amendments A268 and A273 would remove the exception to the requirement for the margin...

There is a phrase that strikes fear and dread into any Minister who has to give the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, a sensible answer that he will accept. That might test me quite a long way. Amendments A268 and A273 would remove the exception to the requirement for the margin...

Relieved.

Relieved.

The noble Lord is being generous in his response to our position. I said that an order under Section 2(3A) would be "the principal means", but it is not exclusive. He is right; there may need to be other measures.

The noble Lord is being generous in his response to our position. I said that an order under Section 2(3A) would be "the principal means", but it is not exclusive. He is right; there may need to be other measures.

I could not agree more with the noble Earl. It would destroy the whole concept of the coastal path if motorised vehicles went anywhere near it.

I could not agree more with the noble Earl. It would destroy the whole concept of the coastal path if motorised vehicles went anywhere near it.

I hope that the noble Baroness appreciates that we are talking about coastal paths, not coastal highways. I do not have a romantic notion of Gypsy caravans being hauled up and down the coastal path and parking where they wish. That will certainly not be possible if the caravans are...

I hope that the noble Baroness appreciates that we are talking about coastal paths, not coastal highways. I do not have a romantic notion of Gypsy caravans being hauled up and down the coastal path and parking where they wish. That will certainly not be possible if the caravans are...

I am grateful to noble Lords, but of course the Secretary of State and Natural England must have regard to safety. I can just see the headlines: "New Liberal Government Opens Coastal Path—4,000 Deaths in the First Year", and no one is blameworthy because it was never suggested that safety...

I am grateful to noble Lords, but of course the Secretary of State and Natural England must have regard to safety. I can just see the headlines: "New Liberal Government Opens Coastal Path—4,000 Deaths in the First Year", and no one is blameworthy because it was never suggested that safety...

At least this time I will avoid the charge from the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, that the Government take joy from being in the middle. On this occasion, the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, has expressed the Government’s view, and I am merely going to endorse the sentiments that he expressed,...

At least this time I will avoid the charge from the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, that the Government take joy from being in the middle. On this occasion, the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, has expressed the Government’s view, and I am merely going to endorse the sentiments that he expressed,...