Foodbank use rising
PLANS to move more people on to Universal Credit could spark a huge rise in the number of people using foodbanks, the Government is being warned.
The Trussell Trust, which runs more than 400 foodbanks across the UK, said issues with benefits were the main reason for referrals to receive emergency food supplies.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “Universal Credit simplifies an out-of-date, complex legacy system.” FRACKING at the UK’s first horizontal shale gas well is expected to start next week, despite a judge granting an interim order to stop the work.
Francis Egan, chief executive of energy firm Cuadrilla, said he was confident the controversial hydraulic fracturing process would begin at the site in Lancashire within a week, despite continued protests.
A High Court hearing will be held on Wednesday after Lancashire campaigner Bob Dennett applied for an injunction to stop the work going ahead pending the determination of a judicial review case against Lancashire County Council, which claims the authority’s emergency response planning and procedures were inadequate.
A court order issued by Mrs Justice Farbey requires Cuadrilla to stop any fracking pending the outcome of the hearing.
Speaking at a media day on the Preston New Road site in Little Plumpton, near Blackpool, Mr Egan said: “We have everything on site and we should be ready to start fracturing next week.”
The firm will initially test gas to see whether it is viable, but if the operation is a success up to 20 wells could be built.