The Conservative MP whose constituency includes Cuadrilla’s fracking site has urged the government to scrap its proposals designed to speed up shale gas decisions.
The government is seeking views on whether shale gas companies should be required to consult local people before they formally submit plans for an area.
The energy minister, Claire Perry, has revised her “myth buster” about shale gas and fracking, apparently to take account a series of earthquakes near Cuadrilla’s site in Lancashire.
Government proposals designed to speed-up fracking decisions are unclear, inappropriate and unjustified, a group of planning experts have said.
Several shale gas wells in production would be seen as success by the government, according to recently released notes of a round-table meeting between the energy minister and the industry.
The energy minister who promotes economic benefits of shale gas has not visited a site, she said this week. She also appears to have back-tracked on hints that she might relax rules on earthquakes induced by fracking.
The energy minister, Claire Perry, has described shale gas as “entirely consistent” with UK measures to a low-carbon future.
The justice secretary has been urged to investigate whether the judge who jailed three anti-fracking protesters last month followed an official code of conduct.
The Conservative MP whose constituency has the largest number of shale gas licences told a packed hall of constituents he opposed government proposals that could relax the rules for exploration sites.
The pro-fracking former Labour MP, Natascha Engel, is the new commissioner for shale gas, the government announced this afternoon.