Scotland bans fracking

Scotland has recently banned fracking following public anger over the controversial gas extraction technique.

Energy minister Paul Wheelhouse said an immediate ban would be enacted by using planning powers to extend the current moratorium “indefinitely”, removing the need for legislation.

Mr Wheelhouse told MSPs: “Let me be clear that the action is sufficient to effectively ban the development of unconventional oil and gas extraction in Scotland.

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“The decision that I am announcing today means that fracking cannot, and will not take place in Scotland.”

The minister said a public consultation on the issue received more than 60,000 responses, an “overwhelming” 99 per cent of which were opposed to fracking.

Opponents raised concerns over the impact on health and the environment, while supporters focused on the economic benefits and said regulation could mitigate any adverse effects.

Hydraulic fracturing involves injecting water at high pressure into shale formations, fracturing the rock and allowing natural gas to flow out.

The government will seek Holyrood’s endorsement for the ban by extending the moratorium in place since January 2015, during a debate and vote following recess.

Conservative MSP Dean Lockhart said the decision meant Scotland’s economy was being “left behind”, and that reports had shown fracking could bring up to £4.6bn in additional GVA and thousands of jobs.

He said: “This much-needed economic boost and these jobs will now be created outside of Scotland, thanks to the SNP.”

Labour’s environment spokesperson Claudia Beamish, and Green MSP Mark Ruskell, both called on the government to commit to a full legal ban, with Ms Beamish saying the proposal did not go “far enough”.

The Liberal Democrats welcomed the government’s announcement, but criticised the time taken to reach a decision.