Ban on Fracking for Shale Gas Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 4:31 pm on 19 October 2022.

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Photo of Richard Graham Richard Graham Conservative, Gloucester 4:31, 19 October 2022

It is absolutely true that the motion tabled by the Opposition does not reflect what was in our manifesto. It calls on the Government to introduce a ban on hydraulic fracking—followed by the three and a half pages of procedural stuff, which is what the motion is really about—whereas our manifesto said that we would introduce “a moratorium”.

In the Secretary of State’s letter to us, he says:

“With time, we will gain more understanding of how we can best develop this potentially very substantial UK asset.”

May I put it to him that, with time, we will gain more understanding of whether we should develop this potential asset? Would he accept that?