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| Scottish government bans fracking in landmark decision | Scottish government bans fracking in landmark decision |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Scottish government has announced a ban on fracking, in the face of “overwhelming” public opposition to 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. | 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. |
| “The decision that I am announcing today means that fracking cannot, and will not take place in Scotland.” | “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. | 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. | 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.” | 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. | |
| Environmental charities hailed the ban, while industry bodies said Scotland would miss out on an economic boost and thousands of jobs. | |
| Friends of the Earth Scotland head of campaigns Mary Church said: “This is a huge win for the anti-fracking movement, particularly for those on the frontline of this dirty industry here in Scotland, who have been working for a ban these last six years.” | Friends of the Earth Scotland head of campaigns Mary Church said: “This is a huge win for the anti-fracking movement, particularly for those on the frontline of this dirty industry here in Scotland, who have been working for a ban these last six years.” |
| She said the ban would “avoid potentially devastating impacts to people's health, the climate and our natural environment”. | She said the ban would “avoid potentially devastating impacts to people's health, the climate and our natural environment”. |
| Dr Sam Gardner, acting director of WWF Scotland, added: “It's excellent news the Scottish government has listened to the thousands of people, campaigners, and politicians across the country who have been calling for a permanent ban to fracking. | |
| “The climate science is clear. The vast majority of fossil fuel reserves need to be left in the ground.” | “The climate science is clear. The vast majority of fossil fuel reserves need to be left in the ground.” |
| Tom Pickering, operations director of Ineos Shale, which processes shale gas shi-ped from overseas to Grangemouth in Scotland, warned the country will miss out on economic and employment benefits, including an estimated 3,100 jobs. | |
| Gary Smith, the GMB union's Scotland secretary, accused the Scottish government of being “dishonest and hypercritical”, adding: “Scotland is importing a huge amount of shale gas from Trump's America. | |
| “If the government wants to be consistent, it will now ban shale gas imports, threatening a huge number of job losses.” | “If the government wants to be consistent, it will now ban shale gas imports, threatening a huge number of job losses.” |
| PA | PA |