My Lords, I speak also to the other government amendments in this group. The amendments result from the useful debate in Committee when the noble Duke, the Duke of Montrose, questioned the wording in subsection (2) of Clause 126. I am grateful to him for doing so. It was pointed...

My Lords, I speak also to the other government amendments in this group. The amendments result from the useful debate in Committee when the noble Duke, the Duke of Montrose, questioned the wording in subsection (2) of Clause 126. I am grateful to him for doing so. It was pointed...

My Lords, I am grateful for that contribution. Given the progress that we are making, perhaps I may illustrate just a little further the necessity for the amendment. The new drafting will ensure that a greater range of animals can be protected. For example, sea fans are colonies of tiny...

My Lords, I am grateful for that contribution. Given the progress that we are making, perhaps I may illustrate just a little further the necessity for the amendment. The new drafting will ensure that a greater range of animals can be protected. For example, sea fans are colonies of tiny...

Clause 263: Power of relevant authority to sell seized fish in its possession Amendment 124D 124D: Clause 263, page 159, line 43, leave out from "authority" to end of line 44 and insert "to have been the owner, or one of the owners, of the fish at the time of...

Clause 263: Power of relevant authority to sell seized fish in its possession Amendment 124D 124D: Clause 263, page 159, line 43, leave out from "authority" to end of line 44 and insert "to have been the owner, or one of the owners, of the fish at the time of...

Clause 260: Procedure in relation to seizure under section 258 or 259 Amendment 124C 124C: Clause 260, page 158, line 24, leave out "authority" and insert "officer" Amendment 124C agreed.

Clause 260: Procedure in relation to seizure under section 258 or 259 Amendment 124C 124C: Clause 260, page 158, line 24, leave out "authority" and insert "officer" Amendment 124C agreed.

Clause 255: Reports of inspections under section 254 Amendment 124A 124A: Clause 255, page 154, line 20, at end insert— "( ) In a case where the officer, after taking reasonable steps to do so, is unable to identify any person as owning the object, the officer must take such...

Clause 255: Reports of inspections under section 254 Amendment 124A 124A: Clause 255, page 154, line 20, at end insert— "( ) In a case where the officer, after taking reasonable steps to do so, is unable to identify any person as owning the object, the officer must take such...

My Lords, I certainly take that point on board. I was only too delighted to put in motion that training programme. In no way was this amendment intended to reflect on the integrity of justices of the peace in Scotland. With all due respect to the noble and learned Lord...

My Lords, I certainly take that point on board. I was only too delighted to put in motion that training programme. In no way was this amendment intended to reflect on the integrity of justices of the peace in Scotland. With all due respect to the noble and learned Lord...

Amendment 124B 124B: Clause 255, page 154, line 38, after "requirement" insert "for the authority" Amendment 124B agreed.

Amendment 124B 124B: Clause 255, page 154, line 38, after "requirement" insert "for the authority" Amendment 124B agreed.

My Lords, after the dizzy heights of Scottish law we enter the rather more prosaic elements of government Amendments 124A and 124B. These amend Clause 255 to place a duty on individual officers as well as the relevant authority to bring the contents of an inspection report to the attention...

My Lords, after the dizzy heights of Scottish law we enter the rather more prosaic elements of government Amendments 124A and 124B. These amend Clause 255 to place a duty on individual officers as well as the relevant authority to bring the contents of an inspection report to the attention...

Clause 282: Offences in relation to enforcement officers Amendment 124E 124E: Clause 282, page 168, line 22, leave out "Act" and insert "Part" Amendment 124E agreed.

Clause 282: Offences in relation to enforcement officers Amendment 124E 124E: Clause 282, page 168, line 22, leave out "Act" and insert "Part" Amendment 124E agreed.

My Lords, I thank the noble Earl and the noble Lord for their support for the amendment. The noble Lord, Lord Livsey, made some very important points. We are limiting references to smelt in the Bill to European smelt because of their different migratory habits. The European smelt is migratory...

My Lords, I thank the noble Earl and the noble Lord for their support for the amendment. The noble Lord, Lord Livsey, made some very important points. We are limiting references to smelt in the Bill to European smelt because of their different migratory habits. The European smelt is migratory...

Amendment 121B 121B: After Clause 180, insert the following new Clause— "Duties of Welsh Ministers in relation to management of inshore fisheries The Welsh Ministers shall manage the exploitation of inshore fisheries in Wales to ensure that the exploitation of inshore fisheries’ resources is carried out in a sustainable way."

Amendment 121B 121B: After Clause 180, insert the following new Clause— "Duties of Welsh Ministers in relation to management of inshore fisheries The Welsh Ministers shall manage the exploitation of inshore fisheries in Wales to ensure that the exploitation of inshore fisheries’ resources is carried out in a sustainable way."

My Lords, I am very pleased to put forward this amendment, which incorporates the duties of Welsh Ministers in relation to the management of inshore fisheries. It is important that it is spelt out in the Bill that: ""Welsh Ministers shall manage the exploitation of inshore fisheries in Wales to...

My Lords, I am very pleased to put forward this amendment, which incorporates the duties of Welsh Ministers in relation to the management of inshore fisheries. It is important that it is spelt out in the Bill that: ""Welsh Ministers shall manage the exploitation of inshore fisheries in Wales to...

My Lords, once again we return to the question of whether devolved legislatures and Executives share the concerns and priorities that have been established here in Westminster. I have no expertise in drafting, but it is a good idea that Welsh Ministers are given rather more direction on their duties....

My Lords, once again we return to the question of whether devolved legislatures and Executives share the concerns and priorities that have been established here in Westminster. I have no expertise in drafting, but it is a good idea that Welsh Ministers are given rather more direction on their duties....

Amendment 121A 121A: Clause 149, page 92, line 4, after ""salmon"" insert ", "smelt""

Amendment 121A 121A: Clause 149, page 92, line 4, after ""salmon"" insert ", "smelt""

My Lords, I am introducing government Amendments 121A, 122A, 122B, 122C, 122D, 122E, 122F, 126C and 130 to correct drafting errors. These are all minor and technical amendments. Amendments 121A, 122A, 122C, 122D and 122F ensure that references to smelt are restricted to the migratory species of smelt—in other words,...

My Lords, I am introducing government Amendments 121A, 122A, 122B, 122C, 122D, 122E, 122F, 126C and 130 to correct drafting errors. These are all minor and technical amendments. Amendments 121A, 122A, 122C, 122D and 122F ensure that references to smelt are restricted to the migratory species of smelt—in other words,...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for tabling these amendments to ensure that smelt are properly covered and for the useful letter explaining the intention behind them. I am pleased that the forensic examination of the detail of this legislation in Committee and the amendments that were tabled, if not...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for tabling these amendments to ensure that smelt are properly covered and for the useful letter explaining the intention behind them. I am pleased that the forensic examination of the detail of this legislation in Committee and the amendments that were tabled, if not...

My Lords, I welcome this amendment and those associated with it. I suppose we could say that one is the smelt amendment and the other is the shad amendment. Speaking as someone who fishes regularly, I believe it is extremely important that smelt, or smelts as they are called in...

My Lords, I welcome this amendment and those associated with it. I suppose we could say that one is the smelt amendment and the other is the shad amendment. Speaking as someone who fishes regularly, I believe it is extremely important that smelt, or smelts as they are called in...

My Lords, I shall speak to this amendment and the government amendments in the group, which are relatively minor compared with the important issue raised by the noble Lord, Lord Livsey, in Amendment 121B, which is the main subject of the debate. The amendment, as identified by the noble Lord,...

My Lords, I shall speak to this amendment and the government amendments in the group, which are relatively minor compared with the important issue raised by the noble Lord, Lord Livsey, in Amendment 121B, which is the main subject of the debate. The amendment, as identified by the noble Lord,...

Amendments 121ZA to 121ZC 121ZA: Clause 149, page 91, line 23, at end insert— "( ) take any other steps which in the authority’s opinion are necessary or expedient for the purpose of making a contribution to the achievement of sustainable development, and" 121ZB: Clause 149, page 91, line 25,...

Amendments 121ZA to 121ZC 121ZA: Clause 149, page 91, line 23, at end insert— "( ) take any other steps which in the authority’s opinion are necessary or expedient for the purpose of making a contribution to the achievement of sustainable development, and" 121ZB: Clause 149, page 91, line 25,...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that substantial statement, which has clarified several issues—in particular, that the intent of Welsh Ministers is clearly to sharpen up considerably the necessary protection. The second point concerned the Memoranda of Understanding. I hope that the Government will spell out in due course...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that substantial statement, which has clarified several issues—in particular, that the intent of Welsh Ministers is clearly to sharpen up considerably the necessary protection. The second point concerned the Memoranda of Understanding. I hope that the Government will spell out in due course...