Crown Estate (Wales) Bill [HL]
Debate between Lord Moynihan and Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd
Lord Moynihan (Con)
Before the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas, winds up, I completely endorse and agree with his views about co-operation. There is no doubt whatever that it is vital in the relationship between Wales and the United Kingdom in this context.
My arguments have not been principally political at any stage during Committee. My argument is that the lion’s share of the Crown Estate’s assets in Wales requires to be maximised in terms of economic value to Wales, and that there should be the overarching control and involvement of the Crown Estate as is currently set up. I believe that would be the most efficient and efficacious way of maximising the value of those assets in the Celtic Sea, and that was the reason that I pushed this argument so strongly, and not because of future political arrangements. After that project comes to fruition and benefits all concerned, there may well be an opportunity to look at the political realities that have been put forward by the noble Lord, Lord Wigley, and the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas.
I think that is the reason that the Government have taken the position they have, and I endorse it strongly: it is a cross-party view, but it is one that is driven—from my perspective—on the economic realities of those assets in Wales at this time. We should still make sure there is maximum co-operation between all interested parties, the Crown Estate and the locally interested parties in Wales, so that the projects we have been discussing in the context of this Bill are brought to fruition to the maximum economic benefit of both the United Kingdom as a whole and indeed Wales.
Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd (CB)
I will briefly reply. There is a difference between what I have put forward and what the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan, suggests.
I thank everyone for listening patiently to what I had to say. I believe that, at the end of the day, as one sees across the world, we must recognise the importance of what is stirred up by nationhood. It is important to try to analyse the way in which economic benefits can be conferred. I have listened to all the arguments, and it still seems to me that the compromise which I put forward—namely, to recognise nationhood and national aspiration but to co-operate to provide economic benefit—is something for now and not for some distant time in the future. Having listened to all the arguments and hearing the views of the Committee, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.