A moratorium on planning consents for unconventional onshore oil and gas wells, including fracking, has been announced today by Energy Minister Fergus Ewing. Fergus Ewing also announced that a full public consultation on unconventional oil & gas extraction will be held to ensure that the voices of communities across Scotland are heard on the issue.
Earlier this week the Conservative party voted against a moratorium and majority of Labour MPs failed to vote for a moratorium on fracking in the House of Commons, despite Jim Murphy stating his supposed opposition to the technology at the weekend he didn't vote for a moratorium. SNP, Green, Plaid Cymru MPs along with Liberal Democrat & some Labour rebels voted in favour of a UK-wide moratorium.
Commenting, SNP MSP Angus MacDonald said: "Today’s announcement of a moratorium will be welcomed by communities across Scotland who have been alarmed by the gung-ho stance taken by the Westminster Government. Today’s statement brings welcome clarity and stands in stark contrast to Labour’s chaotic approach to fracking. This week saw Jim Murphy announce his party’s supposed opposition to fracking before his MPs failed to support a moratorium in the House of Commons."
"The SNP Government has acted where Labour’s MPs failed and have once again shown that Jim Murphy is more interested in political posturing than concrete action." Mr Ewing added.
