FUNCTIONS OF THE AUTHORITY: GENERAL (Hansard, 29 February 1988)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Colin Moynihan)
I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.

§ Mr. Speaker
With this it will be convenient to take Lords amendment No. 10.

§ Mr. Moynihan
The purpose of amendment No. 1, together with the associated amendment, No. 10, to schedule 2, is to give effect to undertakings respectively to the Great Yarmouth Court and Haven Commissioners and Associated British Ports during the Select and Standing Committee stages in the House. For technical and timing reasons the amendment could not be tabled before the Bill left the House.
The purpose and effect of the two amendments is to remove from the map of the Broads, as defined by the deposited map, two separate small areas of Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft respectively. In each case the area forms part of these two ports. After discussion with both harbour authorities we agreed that, at this time, there would be no real benefit to the Broads Authority from these areas—[interruption.]—including the areas within its jurisdiction.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Would hon. Members beyond the Bar please leave the Chamber, or come and join us?

§ Mr. Moynihan
We in no way rule out the possibility, at some future date, of including Mutford Lock and Lake Lothing, not only in the Broads area, but within the navigation area of the Broads Authority. We believe that this could best be pursued in discussion with Associated British Ports, the owner, by the new authority when it is established.

§ Mr. Allan Roberts (Bootle)
This is not a major amendment, but it covers the issue of designation and leaves out any variation made in accordance wih the provisions of Part II of that Schedule". Clause 2 is important. It goes to the heart of the legislation in relation to the designated area. During the proceedings in another place Lord Belstead undertook to ensure that a code of guidance would be issued regarding commitments to long-term conservation. As a result of that undertaking, many amendments that would otherwise have been tabled by the Opposition were not tabled. We 758 still have not received any publication or statement of when such a code of guidance will be produced. The then responsible Minister has moved to another portfolio—a significant one. We are concerned that we will not be able to consider the amendments that we thought we might debate. Will the Minister tell us when we can expect the code of guidance on long-term conservation? Is it forthcoming? What will it entail? Will we have adequate time to debate it?

§ Mr. Moynihan
With the leave of the House, Mr. Deputy Speaker, as the hon. Member for Bootle (Mr. Roberts) will be aware, we are not in a position to discuss whether it was right for certain amendments to be tabled by the Opposition, although I respect the strength of feeling of those Opposition Members who have urged further amendments. I undertake to write to the hon. Gentleman about his specific request. The commitment was given in another place, and we intend to uphold it.