Labour plea to devolve mineral access rights

Labour shadow energy minister Tom Greatrex is calling for mineral access rights to be devolved to Scotland.

He has made a submission to the Smith Commission on more powers for the Scottish Parliament saying it would go hand-inhand with current ministerial powers over fracking and would help clarify a “confusing situation”.

The MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West said while some at Holyrood would like to pretend that the Scottish Government is powerless to act over fracking, the truth was that nothing can happen north of the border without the approval of ministers in Edinburgh.

“Their control over the planning and permitting regime gives the SNP ultimate responsibility for shale gas extraction in Scotland,” he said. “In the context of devolved planning and permitting regimes, it makes sense for mineral access rights, which are essentially a secondary aspect of the planning process, should be devolved as well.”

Mr Greatrex said while coal mining or the laying of gas, water or sewer pipes underground does not require permission of the

“This will bring coherence and clarity and clear up confusion”

land owner, the extraction of geothermal heat, gas or oil does.

“I am calling for the changes to the mineral access law to be considered for devolution to Holyrood so there is coherence with the other aspects of the planning and regulatory regime for which the Scottish Government has responsibility. This will bring some coherence and clarity to a confusing situation.”