Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Fracking: Local Consent

15 November 2022 · 4 other contributors · 9,250 words

Opened by Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire

Responding minister: George Freeman

EnergyEnvironment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Helen Morgan raised concerns about fracking: local consent in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about safety and environmental impacts of fracking, including earthquakes and water supply risks.
  • A public meeting in the constituency saw strong local opposition to proposed fracking plans with nearly 300 attendees.
  • The MP calls for a local referendum process and full disclosure of fracking impacts before any decisions are made.

Key requests to Government

I ask the Government to guarantee that fracking without local consent is never forced on communities. I propose a local referendum process for those in the area covered by the fracking licence and those living in the surrounding impact zone, with full facts of the impact made publicly available before any decisions are made. The lead MP asks the Minister to clarify what 'local consent' means in relation to fracking and whether there has been a change in policy regarding solar power on farmland. She also requests that the Minister confirms if there is any support for a permanent ban on fracking. The hon. Member asks for a formal consent process to be put in place to safeguard communities should there be any future change in the government's stance on fracking.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire

I am concerned about the safety and environmental impacts of fracking. Research has revealed that a single site in the UK caused 192 earthquakes over 182 days, with one earthquake registering at 2.9 magnitude near Blackpool in 2019. The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee warned about risks to groundwater, surface water, and localised risks to water supplies due to the significant quantities of water required for fracking. In my constituency, a huge number of residents rapidly organised opposition when fracking was last proposed at Dudleston Heath, with around 300 people attending a public meeting where nearly everyone opposed the plans. The lead MP is concerned about the lack of logic behind lifting the ban on fracking despite its unpopularity and environmental risks. She mentions that only 17% of people support fracking, highlighting its deep unpopularity across the country. The Member criticises the current Government's energy policy for being biased towards fossil fuels, noting issues with onshore wind bans and oil and gas licences issued by the Government. The hon. Member expresses disappointment that more Back Benchers are not present to voice their communities' concerns about the controversial process of fracking. She acknowledges the Government's clarification on their position but notes a lingering shadow of doubt regarding future changes in policy.

Other contributors (4)
  • Gregory Campbell DUP East Londonderry

    My hon. Friend touches on the two key issues: the safety of any extraction process and local consent. He agrees that if any extraction method falls short on these bases, no Government should permit it to proceed.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Mr Shannon expressed support for the hon. Member for North Shropshire's stance on fracking, highlighting that local consent is crucial and citing incidents in Northern Ireland where fracking has been opposed by locals. He emphasized the need for independent assessment of community consent to prevent bias from fracking companies and stressed the importance of protecting property owners with compensation if their homes are at risk due to fracking. The DUP MP suggested that an independent body or person should collect opinions from individuals door-to-door rather than energy companies holding discussions with locals due to potential bias. This method would provide a clear and unbiased opinion. The hon. Member spoke against fracking and made a wide-ranging speech on the issue. I thanked the Minister for his response and inquired about potential collaborations with Morocco regarding exporting green energy through an undersea channel. I also discussed the importance of retaining key agricultural land for food production due to global challenges.

  • Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East

    I questioned the Minister about the planning process and why communities are not allowed to benefit from onshore wind if they wish to have it. I also discussed concerns over classifying best and most versatile land for solar panel installations.

  • Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath

    The Liberal Democrat MP expressed concerns about the Government's decision to lift the moratorium on fracking, highlighting that local communities were not consulted and that fracked fuel goes against net zero commitments. She mentioned a petition in Bath and North East Somerset calling for a ban on fracking. The MP emphasized the importance of securing local consent even for popular solutions like renewables and encouraged the empowerment of local authorities to reach net zero goals. The hon. Lady noted there is very little support for fracking in Bath and North East Somerset, aligning with Labour's perspective. I am concerned about the UK's potential to be an exporter of renewable energy, particularly given our opportunities with Europe. I also questioned the Minister on whether there are discussions between the UK and Morocco for exporting green energy.

Government Response

George Freeman

The Minister confirmed the Government's return to its 2019 position of a moratorium on fracking. He stated that there is no evidence suggesting fracking can be pursued in an environmentally satisfactory manner and assured that local consent would be crucial for any future considerations. The Minister highlighted ongoing investment into renewable energy technologies such as small nuclear, fusion, marine, and geothermal. He also mentioned the importance of community support and proper consultation with local communities when siting critical national infrastructure.

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