Proposals for a draft Marine Bill : eighth report of session 2005-06, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

The Committee's report examines the Government's proposals for a new Marine Bill, as set out in its consultation paper published in March 2006, which proposes an integrated framework for the management of the marine environment, designed to deliver clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas.

The report considers a range of issues under the following headings: the legislative background to the Bill and its planned timetable; the scope of the Bill and its five key themes; the consultation process, the work of Defra and liaison with other departments; devolution issues; marine spatial planning and a new marine management organisation; marine protected areas; and data issues.