The Lancaster MP has accused the government of a ‘political stunt’, as fears grow about the future of fracking in Lancashire.
Cat Smith probed the energy minister in the Commons this week following the decision by the government to commission a survey into fracking, with the British Geological Survey (BGS) commissioned "to advise on the latest scientific advice around shale gas extraction".
In 2019 ministers placed a moratorium on the process, which pumps water, chemicals and sand underground at high pressure to fracture shale rock and release trapped oil and gas.
That decision followed tremors above the legal levels set out during testing at a site at Preston New Road near Blackpool. Earlier this month, energy producer Cuadrilla had a deadline to plug its three shale gas testing wells in Lancashire extended to June 2023. It had previously been ordered to concrete up the wells by 30 June this year after the effective fracking ban in 2019.
But the issue of fracking has arisen again as the government tries to reduce soaring energy bills and secure its own oil and gas supplies in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
In the Commons, addressed Kwasi Kwarteng directly, saying:
‘’During the general election in 2019 the Government said that fracking in Lancashire was going to be off the table, there was a moratorium and the wells were going to be filled with concrete.
‘’Can I ask the Secretary of State, what has changed between 2019 and now to put it back on the table?
‘’What on earth did he get from COP26?
Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, replied:
‘’There has been an issue with the wholesale gas price, in that it has gone up about ten times in that time.
‘’It seems entirely reasonable that if we have gas under our feet, we look at the possibility of using it.’’
In a statement, Ms Smith later added: ‘’The moratorium was about safety. Nothing was said in 2019 about wholesale gas prices. The moratorium on fracking was a political stunt for votes in the last general election.
‘’Local people don’t want it, there’s no jobs, and it wouldn’t come on stream fast enough to lower energy bills. Renewables are faster, cleaner and sustainable.’’
Earlier this month it was revealed that Heysham nuclear power production could be extended after the site was named in a major new UK government energy strategy.
Up to eight more nuclear reactors could be approved across these sites in the coming years, with the government now aiming to deliver the equivalent of one reactor per year, rather than one a decade.
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