May I thank the Minister for her statement this afternoon? Clearly, we will need some time to digest the substantial document before coming to a final conclusion on my views on it. But, certainly, there are a few points arising that I need to ask some questions on.

I’m pleased that you’ve acknowledged the impacts that we’re already seeing in terms of the climate emergency, and the impact that that’s having on our communities. You make reference to flooding and coastal erosion, for example, and we are aware that there are communities across Wales facing that very real challenge today. I want to ask, therefore, what the Government’s intention is in terms of creating a system or creating a specific process—proactively, perhaps— a statutory process, in order to ensure that all the stakeholders who are going to have to be part of that process, of perhaps relocating communities, even, who face the greatest level of threat, can come together.

We can talk about what needs to be done to safeguard those communities, but, at the end of the day, there will be some communities that will have to relocate, and people are looking to Government, I think, to give leadership in this area. We may be talking about one or two over the next decade, but after that there will be more. So, we need some sort of process in place and a clear regime in order to have that discussion and then to take action when necessary. So, I’d be eager to hear your comments on that.

The fact that I’m asking this question perhaps leads me to my next question, namely, of course: we have a national development framework, and we have this marine plan, and they overlap, don’t they? That is, the issue that I’ve just discussed could fall into one or the other, or both, as it perhaps should. Renewable energy likewise: it is included in both documents. Why, therefore, not have a marine and terrestrial plan merged in a co-ordinated way that is dovetailed properly? Why have two different documents?

In expanding the network of the marine protected areas, the MPAs, how will you ensure that all of the voices are heard and are listened to, of course, in that discussion? We all remember the efforts of the last Assembly in expanding the number of marine conservation zones, and I do think that it was a problem in jointly developing those proposals with a broad enough range of stakeholders that led to the conflict that emerged as a result of that. It’s important that everyone comes on that journey together. So, where will those voices be heard, and how will you ensure that everyone can participate in that discussion?

I want to expand on marine energy, of course. I agree with you that this is certainly one of the most important long-term strategic aims for Wales. I would argue that, in order to achieve that to its full potential, we need further devolution—for example, Crown Estate responsibilities, which they already have in Scotland. I would ask you whether you agree, for example, that developing Crown Estate powers for this place would support us in delivering that potential, as it is, as you say, one of our most important strategic long-term aims?

I’m pleased to see the reference to the extraction of fossil fuels from our seas. I’ve raised this with you previously, of course. Plaid Cymru opposes that, and I’m pleased to see a statement making your view on that issue clear. The challenge now, of course, is to ensure that this plan is implemented and that it is used by regulators, developers, and the users of our marine environment, and that it doesn’t just gather dust on a shelf. And the key question in that regard is: will this plan be given the necessary resource and investment? Because there is a feeling, I think, that the marine policy has been a poor relation for far too long, and therefore, perhaps as a result of this plan, the time has now come to invest to the necessary levels in order to ensure that change does occur.