Marine Activities (Licensing) Bill

A Bill to transfer responsibility for marine licensing from the Marine Management Organisation to local authorities; and for connected purposes.

Originating House

House of Commons

Last Updated

2 November 2023

In Plain English

AI-generated

This Bill would move the power to issue marine licences from the Marine Management Organisation to local authorities. It aims to decentralise control of certain marine activities and includes related provisions to support the transfer. The details are at an early stage, as the Bill has just been introduced at first reading in the Commons.

Key Points

- Transfers responsibility for issuing marine licences from the Marine Management Organisation to local authorities.
- Local authorities would become the licensing bodies for relevant marine activities.
- The bill includes provisions for connected purposes to support the transfer (e.g., transitional arrangements).
- Current stage: first reading in the House of Commons (originating in the Commons).

Progress

The Bill is in its first reading in the House of Commons, having just been introduced and not yet debated in detail or moved to committee stage.

Who is affected?

Local authorities (councils) that would become licensing authoritiesMarine licence applicants (e.g., developers, dredging operators, fishermen, shipowners, offshore project operators)The Marine Management Organisation and its staff, as licensing responsibilities move to local authorities

Generated 21 February 2026

Updates & Documents

News (1)

Marine Activities (Licensing) Bill

24 Mar 2023

The 2022-2023 session of Parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress.

Documents (1)

Bill 160 2022-23 (as introduced)

BillCommons

1 Feb 2023

Parliamentary Votes (0)

No recorded votes for this bill yet.

Marine Activities (Licensing) Bill | TrackPolitics