Overview

This bill amends the Ports Act 1991, requiring all schemes under Part 1 of the Act to be approved by local referendums before the Secretary of State can make or confirm them. The bill outlines the process for these referendums and specifies that expenses will be met by Parliament.

Description

This bill mandates that any scheme under Part 1 of the Ports Act 1991 must receive approval via a local referendum before the Secretary of State can implement it. The Secretary of State is responsible for creating regulations detailing the referendum process. These regulations must be approved by both Houses of Parliament before they become law. When drafting these regulations, the Secretary of State must consider existing provisions within the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (specifically, Chapter 4ZA, inserted by the Localism Act 2011), which likely govern local referendum procedures. The bill also states that government will cover all costs associated with the referendums.

Government Spending

The bill will lead to increased government spending on organizing and administering the local referendums required for schemes under Part 1 of the Ports Act 1991. The exact cost is not specified in the bill text.

Groups Affected

Groups affected include:
• **Local communities:** They will have a direct say via referendums on schemes affecting their ports.
• **Port authorities:** Their proposals will be subject to local approval.
• **The Secretary of State:** Their power to make or confirm schemes under the Ports Act 1991 is significantly altered.
• **UK Taxpayers:** They will bear the cost of the referendums.

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