SNP set to outlaw fracking despite economic boost
MINISTERS have been branded ‘hypocrites’ amid claims they are set to ban fracking in Scotland – despite huge economic benefits for the country.
Reports yesterday said the Scottish Government is to confirm within days that the practice will be outlawed north of the Border following a nearly three-year moratorium.
Hydraulic fracturing involves pumping water at high pressure into rock, forcing it to crack and release gas.
Experts believe allowing this could boost the Scottish economy by more than £4billion and would stop the need to import gas from the United States.
But critics have raised fears it could pollute water, decimate house prices, create greenhouse gases and even cause earthquakes. Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens have made their opposition to fracking clear – with Labour pledging to bring forward legislation in Holyrood if the Government fails to act.
Yesterday Scots Tory leader Ruth Davidson said: ‘There has been a pretty big level of hypocrisy from the Scottish Government in the past on this issue.
‘They say that fracking is perfectly well to be done, it is done in America and people take gas out of the ground and put it on ships and take it to Scotland in order to be refined, but they don’t want it to happen here.
‘I think it is disappointing. We could have had a second gas boom for Scotland.’
The Scottish Government refused to give any details on plans for fracking, but said it would bring a vote to parliament before the end of this year. It is likely Holyrood will vote to ban the process, with only the Conservatives opposing.
Scottish Labour environment spokesman Claudia Beamish made clear she would press ahead with her party’s pledge for legislation if ministers do not ban the prac- tice. She 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 I will be looking for clarity on how it will proceed to a ban.
‘Otherwise, I will continue with my Member’s Bill to ban onshore fracking to make sure that we protect our planet for this and future generations to come.’
The Scottish Government announced a moratorium on fracking in January 2015.
Yesterday a spokesman said: ‘We have put in place a moratorium on fracking, which means no such activity can take place.
‘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 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.’