Fracking ban failure a ‘betrayal’ of pledges

Climate: Warning as Scottish Government poised to make decision

Failure to introduce an outright ban on fracking will be a “betrayal” of Scotland’s climate change commitments, SNP ministers have been warned.

Reports have suggested the Scottish Government could confirm within days that it is to outlaw the controversial practice.

Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens have already made their opposition to fracking clear, with Labour having pledged to bring forward legislation if the Scottish Government fails to act.

Environment spokeswoman Claudia Beamish made clear she would press ahead with that if ministers did not ban the practice completely.

Ms Beamish said: “Anything less than an outright ban of onshore fracking in all its forms would be a betrayal by the SNP Government of our climate change commitments, our communities and the job opportunities now and for future generations in clean, renewable energy.

“Fracking would be a dirty distraction, not a transition fuel.

“When the SNP Government finally makes a statement, after so much delay, I will be looking for absolute clarity on how it will proceed to a total ban.

“Otherwise, I will continue with my Member’s Bill to ban onshore fracking, to make sure that we protect our planet.”

The Scottish Government announced a moratorium on fracking in January 2015, but ministers have still to decide if this should be made permanent.

When the legislative programme for the coming year was announced, ministers said they would set out their view on fracking and seek parliamentary approval “in the coming weeks”.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We have put in place a moratorium on fracking which means no such activity can take place in Scotland.

“We have also published research reports on the potential impacts of unconventional oil and gas and carried out an extensive public consultation which attracted more than 60,000 responses.

“Ministers are considering the evidence, including the results of the consultation and will put their recommendation on the way forward to the Scottish Parliament for MSPS to vote on this important issue before the end of this calendar year.”

But Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said an outright ban would be “disappointing”, insisting fracking could bring a “second gas boom” to Scotland.

Picture: Getty. A protest against fracking outside the SNP autumn conference in 2013 at Perth Concert Hall.