Colin Welcomes the Moratorium on Fracking!

A moratorium on planning consents for unconventional onshore oil & gas wells, including fracking, has been announced today by Energy Minister Fergus Ewing.

Fergus Ewing also announced that a full public consultation on unconventional oil & gas extraction will be held to ensure that the voices of communities across Scotland are heard on the issue.

Earlier this week the majority of Scottish Labour MPs failed to vote for a moratorium on fracking in the House of Commons, despite Jim Murphy stating his supposed opposition to the technology at the weekend. Every SNP MP voted in favour of a UK-wide moratorium.

Commenting, SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:

“I will join communities across Scotland today in welcoming the Scottish Government's announcement of a moratorium on fracking.

“Today’s statement brings welcome clarity and provides a stark contrast to Labour's shambolic, contradictory performance on this issue. This week alone saw Jim Murphy announce his party’s apparent opposition to fracking before his MPs failed to support a moratorium in the House of Commons.

“The Scottish Government has acted where Labour’s MPs failed - demonstrating once again that the interests of the people of Scotland are best protected by the SNP.”