Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Marine Activities (Licensing)

12 October 2022 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Giles Watling Con Clacton

Environment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Giles Watling raised concerns about marine activities (licensing) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.

Key points

  • Watling argues the Marine Management Organisation is not fit for purpose due to a lack of expertise and local insight.
  • He proposes transferring the MMO's functions to local authorities through a pilot scheme.
  • Issues highlighted include delayed licences and insufficient understanding of local conditions.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Giles Watling Con Clacton

Watling argues that the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is not fit for purpose, highlighting issues such as a lack of expertise and local insight. He proposes transferring many of the MMO's functions to local authorities through a pilot scheme to address problems like delayed licences and insufficient understanding of local conditions.

Other contributors (1)
  • Giles Watling Con Clacton

    Watling points out that the MMO manages around 90,000 square miles of seas and coasts, which are crucial for trade, construction materials, renewable energy projects, marine protected areas, fishing, and seafood industries. He cites specific examples where local knowledge was lacking or where licences were delayed for vital works on sea defences.

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