MARINE BILL AND UK GOVERNMENT POLICY

Early day motion 91, tabled 6 November 2007 by Bill Wiggin (Conservative). Signed by 53 members.

That this House notes that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs identified protecting the marine environment as one of its main objectives in 2001 in Working For The Essentials of Life; further notes that in Delivering The Essentials Of Life: Defra's Five Year Strategy in 2004 the Government promised to deliver a Marine Bill; is disappointed that the Government failed to deliver the draft Marine Bill promised in the 2005 Queen's Speech; is further disappointed that the promise made by the former marine environment minister, the hon. Member for Exeter, that there would be a Marine Bill in this Session (Environmental Audit Committee Eight Report of Session 2005-06) is likely to be broken; urges the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to take a greater leadership role in co-ordinating the devolved administrations and Government departments in the production of the Marine Bill; recognises the strong support in Parliament and among the general public for a Marine Bill; and calls upon the Government to introduce a Marine Bill in the present Session and to ensure that the provisions of the Bill are brought into force.

Signatures by party: Conservative 33, Liberal Democrat 15, Labour 4, Independent 1.