Lords asks government to think again on Crown Estate Bill

Members of the House of Lords concluded their consideration of the Crown Estate Bill at report stage on Tuesday 5 November.

The Crown Estate Bill aims to widen the borrowing and investment powers of the Crown Estate to speed up the development of offshore wind projects, in collaboration with Great British Energy, and to deliver long-term financial returns to the taxpayer.

Detailed scrutiny

Report stage is an extra chance for members to closely scrutinise elements of the bill and make changes.

Proposed changes

Members speaking at report state put forward amendments (PDF) to the bill on subjects including:

establishing a regional wealth fund and a skills training fund
reporting on the partnership between commissioners and GB Energy
climate change duties of the Crown Estate.

Votes

There were three divisions (votes) on proposed changes to the bill.

Members voted to agree to a change to require the estate commissioners, when carrying out their duties, to consider the environmental impact and animal welfare of salmon farms on Crown Estate land.

Lords members also considered changes on limiting the amounts estate commissioners may borrow, subject to parliamentary approval, and the devolution of the Crown Estate in Wales to the Welsh government. Following votes on the floor of the House, both of these changes were disagreed to.