Nicola Sturgeon has been asked to explain if she misled parliament about fracking as confusion deepened over the Scottish government’s approach. Defending the decision to instigate an indefinite moratorium on fracking, James Mure, QC, counsel for the Scottish government, said: “The concept of an effective ban is a gloss. It is the language of a press statement. What they have done is to announce a preferred position on the issue.” The moratorium is being challenged at the Court of Session in Edinburgh by Ineos and Reach CSG, the petrochemical companies, which want to extract gas and oil from rock beds by using high pressure water to fracture the rock. The description of the government’s stance as a “preferred position” not a ban seemed to contradict statements made by Ms Sturgeon and other ministers when the moratorium was e xtended last year. In October she said: “Let me be clear, because to some ears it will sound as if some members are dancing on the head of a pin: fracking is being banned in Scotland – end of story.” Paul Wheelhouse, the energy minister, also referred to an “effective ban” on fracking having been imposed. The Conservatives produced evidence which they claimed showed that the Scottish government had referred to a “ban” on fracking ten times and called on ministers to explain why they believed there was a ban in place but their lawyer did not. Alexander Burnett, the Tory energy spokesman, said: “People will be stunned that a QC representing the SNP government in court could so spectacularly contradict the claims and parliamentary statements of Nicola Sturgeon and Paul Wheelhouse . . . Both should explain to parliament as a matter of urgency why these seemingly misleading statements were made.” He added: “It confirms this fracking ban is a game to the SNP , aimed at pandering to the extreme elements in the independence-supporting green lobby. In the process, Scotland risks missing out on an economic boom and the chance to lower people’s energy bills.”
Times 10th May 2018 read more »
Scotsman 10th May 2018 read more »
Telegraph 9th May 2018 read more »
Herald 9th May 2018 read more »
