Backbench MPs from most of the major political parties have proposed a motion that would force a vote for a moratorium on fracking across Britain.
The Infrastructure Bill, which is coming before MPs for a crucial vote on Monday, includes a series of measures to pave the way for fracking. However, a new motion, backed by MPs including Yasmin Qureshi and John Mann (Labour), Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru) Julian Huppert (Lib Dem) and Caroline Lucas (Green) would, if passed, introduce a moratorium on fracking for up to two and a half years while the risks are assessed.
The move comes as a petition - over a quarter of a million strong - was handed in to Downing Street today to ask David Cameron to abandon the push for fracking. The initiative, supported by a broad alliance of environmental groups including Friends of Earth, Greenpeace, and WWF, comes just days before the first Commons vote on fracking legislation and a much anticipated council decision on fracking in by Lancashire County Council.
Earlier this week planning officers at the Council recommended the refusal of two applications by shale energy company Cuadrilla to carry out fracking at two sites in the county near Blackpool.
The Labour Party has also tabled a separate proposal to introduce a new set of dedicated fracking regulations into the Infrastructure Bill. A vote on these will also take place on Monday. However, Labour has not said whether there should be a moratorium while these new regulations are written.
If Lancashire County Council’s development control committee decides next week to approve to Cuadrilla’s applications, Lancashire would become the first local authority to give the go-ahead to the technique since a nationwide ban was lifted by the Government in 2012.
The amendment to insert a new clause into the UK Infrastructure Bill would introduce a moratorium on fracking for between 18 and 30 months while a full assessment into the impacts on health, the economy, climate change and the environment takes place.
MPs will get the opportunity to vote on the amendment, as well as an amendment by Caroline Lucas MP calling for an outright ban on the unconventional gas industry and an amendment rejecting the Government's proposals to allow companies to frack under people's homes without permission, at the Report Stage of the Infrastucture Bill on 26th January.
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