Crown Estate Bill [HL]

1 Power of Crown Estate Commissioners to borrow etc

(1)

The Crown Estate Act 1961 is amended as follows.

(2)

In section 1 (general provision about Crown Estate Commissioners), after subsection (4) insert—

“(4A)

The powers exercisable by the Commissioners in the discharge of their
functions under this Act include powers to do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the discharge of those functions.”

(3)

In section 3 (management powers etc)—

(a)

omit subsection (4) , and

(b)

in subsection (5) , for the words from “, on security” to the end
substitute “in accordance with section 3A , or otherwise with the consent of the Treasury.”

(4)

After that section insert—

“3A Power of the Commissioners to borrow etc

(1)

The Treasury may—

(a)

arrange for loans to be issued to the Commissioners out of the
National Loans Fund;

(b)

provide financial assistance (including by way of loan) to the
Commissioners out of money provided by Parliament.

(2)

In the case of a loan issued under subsection (1) (a) —

(a)

the Treasury may determine the rate of interest on the loan
(and, accordingly, section 5 of the National Loans Act 1968 applies), and

(b)

the Treasury must pay any sums received in respect of the
loan into the National Loans Fund.”

2 Number of Crown Estate Commissioners and their salaries and expenses

(1)

Schedule 1 to the Crown Estate Act 1961 (constitution etc of Crown Estate
Commissioners) is amended as follows.

(2)

In paragraph 1—

(a)

in sub-paragraph (1), for “eight” substitute “12”;

(b)

in sub-paragraph (3), omit “, and the second Crown Estate
Commissioner, if any, deputy chairman”.

(3)

For paragraph 5 substitute—

“5

The salaries and expenses of the Commissioners, including the
remuneration of persons appointed by them under paragraph 4(1), are to be paid out of the income of the Crown Estate.”

3 Sustainable development

In section 1 of the Crown Estate Act 1961 (general provision about the Crown Estate Commissioners), after subsection (3) insert—

“(3A)

The Commissioners must keep under review the impact of their
activities on the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom.”

4 Annual reports

In section 2 of the Crown Estate Act 1961 (reports and accounts), after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A)

The annual report for a year in which a partnership between the
Commissioners and Great British Energy is in operation must include a report on—

(a)

the activities of the Commissioners during the year under that
partnership, and

(b)

any effects or benefits experienced during the year which were
the result of activities of the Commissioners under that partnership.”

5 Salmon farms on the Crown Estate

After section 3 of the Crown Estate Act 1961 , insert—

“3B Salmon farms on the Crown Estate

(1)

In carrying out their functions under this Act, the Commissioners must
assess the—

(a)

environmental impact, and

(b)

animal welfare standards

of salmon farms on the Crown Estate.

(2)

If the assessment under subsection (1) determines that a salmon farm—

(a)

is causing environmental damage, or

(b)

has significant animal welfare issues,

then they must revoke the licence for the farm in question.

(3)

The Commissioners must assess the potential—

(a)

environmental impact, and

(b)

animal welfare standards

of applications for licences for salmon farms on the Crown Estate.

(4)

If the assessment under subsection (3) determines that an application
for a licence for a salmon farm—

(a)

may cause environmental damage, or

(b)

raises significant animal welfare concerns,

then they must refuse the application.”

6 Commissioners with special responsibility

(1)

Paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Crown Estate Act 1961 (constitution etc), is
amended as follows.

(2)

Before sub-paragraph (4) insert—

“(3B)

The commissioners appointed under this paragraph must include—

(a)

a commissioner responsible for giving advice about England,

(b)

a commissioner responsible for giving advice about Wales, and

(c)

a commissioner responsible for giving advice about Northern
Ireland.

(3C)

References in sub-paragraph (3B) to “giving advice about” a part of
the United Kingdom are to the giving of advice to the Commissioners about conditions in that part so far as relating to their functions in relation to land there.

(3D)

A commissioner’s responsibility for giving advice under sub-paragraph
(3B) is additional to the other responsibilities of a commissioner.”

(3)

Before sub-paragraph (5) insert—

“(4B)

No recommendation may be made to His Majesty for the appointment
of a person as a commissioner under sub-paragraph (3B)(b) or (c) unless—

(a)

the Welsh Ministers have been consulted about the
appointment, in the case of an appointment under sub-paragraph (3B)(b), or

(b)

the Executive Office in Northern Ireland has been consulted
about the appointment, in the case of an appointment under sub-paragraph (3B)(c).”

7 Extent, commencement and short title

(1)

This Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

(2)

This Act comes into force at the end of the period of two months beginning
with the day on which it is passed.

(3)

This Act may be cited as the Crown Estate Act 2024.