Y Pwyllgor Amgylchedd a Chynaliadwyedd

Environment and Sustainability Committee

                 13 August 2012

Dear Colleague

The National Assembly for Wales’ Environment and Sustainability Committee is undertaking a short inquiry into marine policy in Wales. 

The purpose of the inquiry is to:

• Assess progress made by the Welsh Government in relation to implementation of the Marine Act 2009 with particular regard to the marine conservation and the marine spatial planning powers of the Act;
• Assess progress made by the Welsh Government towards the achievement of its European obligations in this field with particular regard to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Birds Directive, the Habitats Directive, the Bathing Water Quality Directive and the Water Framework Directive.

The Committee will consider:

• What progress has been made in relation to the development of marine spatial plans for Wales?

· What is the current status of marine protected areas in Wales and what role should the new marine conservation zones have in this network of protected areas?

• The development of the Welsh Government’s functions in relation to marine licensing and fisheries and whether this has been effective?
• What progress has been made by the Welsh Government in the implementation of key European Directives?
• Whether there is sufficient cooperation and coordination between the Welsh Government and its neighbouring administrations in relation to the management of its seas?
• Whether the Welsh Government has sufficient financial and staff resource to deliver on its marine policy and legislation objectives?
• Whether stakeholders have been sufficiently involved in the shaping of new policies and the development of legislation?

Invitation to contribute to the inquiry

The Committee welcomes evidence from both individuals and organisations.  If you are responding on behalf of an organisation, please provide a brief description of the role of your organisation.

We will be holding oral evidence sessions during the autumn term 2012 so it would be helpful if you could indicate in your submission whether you would be prepared to give oral evidence, if invited. 

Generally, we ask for submissions to be made in writing because it is normal practice for the National Assembly to publish evidence provided to a Committee on our internet site so that it becomes part of the public record.  However, we are also able to accept evidence in audio or video format.  The Committee welcomes contributions in English or Welsh, and we ask organisations with Welsh Language policies / schemes to provide bilingual responses, where applicable, in line with their public information policies. 

If you wish to submit evidence, please send an electronic copy of your submission to ES.Comm@wales.gov.uk.  Alternatively, you can write to: Committee Clerk, Environment and Sustainability Committee, National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay, CF99 1NA.

Submissions should arrive by Friday 21 September 2012. It may not be possible to take into account responses received after this date.

A copy of this letter has been placed on the National Assembly’s website with an open invitation to submit views.

Disclosure of Information

It is normal practice for the National Assembly to publish evidence provided to a Committee.  Consequently your response may appear in a report or in supplementary evidence to a report.  The National Assembly will not publish information which it considers to be personal data.

In the event of a request for information submitted under UK legislation, it may be necessary to disclose the information that you provide.  This may include information which has previously been removed by the National Assembly for publication purposes.

If you are providing any information, other than personal data, which you feel is not suitable for public disclosure, it is up to you to stipulate which parts should not be published and to provide a reasoned argument to support this.  The National Assembly will take this into account when publishing information or responding to requests for information.

Yours faithfully

Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM

Chair