Crown Estate Bill [Lords] Report Stage: Amendment 4

Monday, 24 February 2025 · Division No. 103 · Commons

153Ayes

–

316Noes

Defeated

178 MPs did not vote

cross-cuttingGovernment defeatedPro Parliamentary Scrutiny(Yes)Pro Public Accountability(Yes)Pro Crown Estate Reform(No)Fiscal Responsibility(Yes)

Voting Yes means

Support stronger parliamentary scrutiny and accountability over the Crown Estate's expanded borrowing powers

Voting No means

Oppose adding further obligations on the Crown Estate beyond those already in the Bill, trusting existing safeguards are sufficient

What happened

On 24 February 2025, the House of Commons voted on Amendment 4 to the Crown Estate Bill at Report Stage. The amendment, tabled by Conservative MP James Wild, sought to introduce enhanced parliamentary scrutiny and oversight of the Crown Estate's operations, particularly in light of the Bill's expansion of the Estate's borrowing and investment powers. The amendment was defeated by 316 votes to 153, with the government opposing it.

Why it matters

The Crown Estate manages assets worth approximately £15.5 billion, including vast amounts of coastal land and seabed that are central to the UK's offshore wind and renewable energy ambitions. The Bill grants the Crown Estate new powers to borrow and invest, making it a significant vehicle for delivering the government's net zero energy targets. Amendment 4 sought to attach greater parliamentary accountability to these expanded powers, including scrutiny of how borrowing and investment decisions are made. Its defeat means the Crown Estate will proceed with its new commercial freedoms under existing governance arrangements, without the additional oversight mechanisms the opposition sought. This is particularly relevant given that the Crown Estate's public framework document, which was to give context to the Bill's sustainable development clause, had not been shared with the House before the vote.

The politics

The vote divided almost entirely along party lines. All 310 Labour and Labour and Co-operative MPs who voted opposed the amendment, while Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, the Democratic Unionist Party, and most smaller parties voted in favour. Reform UK provided two votes in support. There were no notable rebels on either side. The debate around the amendment was intertwined with broader arguments over devolution of the Crown Estate to Wales and Northern Ireland, fishing community protections, and the pace of offshore wind development, reflecting the wide range of interests the Bill touches across the UK's nations and regions.

How They Voted

Government position: No

Labour PartyWhipped No

0 Aye/281 No

Conservative and Unionist PartyWhipped Aye

88 Aye/0 No

Liberal DemocratsWhipped Aye

53 Aye/0 No

Labour and Co-operative PartyWhipped No

0 Aye/29 No

Independent

2 Aye/2 No

Democratic Unionist PartyWhipped Aye

4 Aye/0 No

Green Party of England and WalesWhipped No

0 Aye/4 No

Plaid CymruWhipped Aye

4 Aye/0 No

Reform UK

2 Aye/0 No

Traditional Unionist Voice

1 Aye/0 No

Ulster Unionist Party

1 Aye/0 No

Your Party

0 Aye/1 No

What They Said in the Debate

Llinos Medi

Plaid Cymru · Ynys Môn

Opposed

New Clause 1 proposes devolving Welsh Crown Estate management to Welsh Government within two years, arguing Wales should control and benefit from its natural resources like Scotland does.

Voted Aye

Jim Allister

DUP · North Antrim

Opposed

Opposes New Clause 7 (devolution to Northern Ireland Executive) as impractical given Stormont's dysfunction and Lough Foyle's contentious status with Republic of Ireland.

Voted Aye

James Wild

Conservative · North West Norfolk

Neutral

Backs Amendment 4 (25% borrowing cap), New Clause 5 (Treasury approval for 10%+ asset disposals), and New Clause 6 (publish GB Energy partnership agreement) to ensure parliamentary oversight.

Voted Aye

Steff Aquarone

Labour · North Norfolk

Neutral

Backs Amendment 3 requiring Crown Estate to assess coastal erosion protections where offshore projects make landfall, citing unfair disparity between energy infrastructure and community protection.

Voted Aye

Henry Tufnell

Labour · Mid and South Pembrokeshire

Supportive

Supports the Bill but backs Amendment 5 to require Crown Estate to have regard to net zero, regional economic growth and energy security as defined duties, rejecting ESG window-dressing.

Voted No

Pippa Heylings

Liberal Democrat · South Cambridgeshire

Supportive

Supports Bill but backs Amendment 2 (define sustainable development with climate and nature duty) and New Clause 3 (5% of profits to local communities) to ensure accountability and community benefits.

Voted Aye

Matt Rodda

Labour · Reading Central

Supportive

Supports the Bill as modernising Crown Estate to accelerate net zero and energy security; opposes new clauses and amendments as unnecessary restrictions on Crown Estate's flexibility.

Voted No

James Murray

Labour (Minister) · Ealing North

Supportive

Rejects devolution to Wales and Northern Ireland as commercially unviable and disruptive to grid connectivity and offshore wind investment; maintains existing structure benefits all UK nations.

Voted No