SNP, Labour Move Against Fracking in Scotland
Plans for "unconventional gas" development in Scotland have suffered a serious setback, with both the SNP and Labour Party clarifying their stances in respect to coal bed methane and shale gas activities.
Speaking to BBC Scotland, MP Mike Weir, the SNP’s Westminster energy spokesman, said that his party would vote in favour of an amendment to the Infrastructure Bill currently going through Westminster, which would see a moratorium put in place on fracking across the UK.
The amendment proposed by Labour, has received the support of LibDem, Plaid Cymru and Greens MSPs, and will be voted upon by House of Commons on Monday. If approved the moratorium could last between 18 and 30 months.
The Infrastructure Bill is set to allow underground access in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Last week, the UK government agreed to exclude Scotland from laws making it easier for fracking firms to drill for shale gas.
Speaking to the Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Weir said: "There are serious issues as to what happens in the meantime, both with existing licences being granted by the UK government and the prospect of the UK government granting licences in the meantime.”
"We think there should be a moratorium which would mean that before there could be anything going forward with fracking there would have to be an assessment to take account of the impacts of exploration on climate change, environment, health and safety, and the economy."
Although the Scottish Parliament currently has power over planning issues, the devolution of onshore licensing and mineral access rights as recommended by the Smith Commission will not be transferred until after May's UK General Election.
Labour's Scottish leader, Jim Murphy MP, said his part would suspend coalbed methane and fracking developments until sufficient environmental and health safeguards were in place, should Labour win the Scottish election in 2016. Projects would also require local approval by referendums prior to receiving planning permissions.
"If I am elected First Minister in 2016 there will be no onshore fracking in Scotland until it has been shown beyond all doubt that it can be carried out safely," Murphy said.
Labour's Scottish environment spokeswoman, Sarah Boyack MSP, said that the party's policy included a halt to the development of coalbed methane. "We want current applications suspended," she said.
The Scottish government has also said it will outline plans to strengthen its "precautionary approach" to fracking next week. Scottish Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing MSP, had called for a halt to the issuance of new onshore gas licenses in Scotland.
Ken Cronin, chief executive of unconventional gas operators group UK Onshore Oil and Gas, warned of the negative impacts of the new developments.
"All a moratorium would do would be to put back development of natural gas from shale in the UK, with a resulting negative effect on the UK's energy security and plans to phase out coal and reduce harmful emissions," said Cronin.