WIREDGOV

Ministers offer meetings with both industry and with environmental NGOs.

Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has welcomed support from both industry and environmental NGOs, for the Scottish Government’s moratorium and planned public consultation on unconventional oil and gas. Mr Ewing and fellow Scottish Government Ministers are to now offer to meet with key stakeholders with an interest in this area in advance of a full public consultation.

Environmental organisations including Friends of the Earth Scotland and WWF Scotland both welcomed the announcement. Industry bodies including Ineos and the UK Onshore Operators Group also welcomed the opportunity to engage in the consultation.

Commenting Mr Ewing said:

“ I totally understand that those with different perspectives in the debate on unconventional oil and gas have strongly held views, but I very much welcome the positive and constructive welcome from both industry interests and from environmental organisations to the Scottish Government’s announcement of a full public consultation and a moratorium on unconventional oil and gas.

“ As I informed Parliament we will set out the timetable for the programme of work on unconventional oil and gas in due course. However as a precursor to that myself and fellow Ministers are happy to have a series of meeting with both industry representatives and environmental organisations to further discuss this issue.

“ Our approach in Scotland is to build consensus where possible, not to create confrontation, and provide a right to take part in a consultation.”

Notes To Editors

On Friday January 23, following the publication of the Smith Command Paper, Mr Ewing wrote to UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey requesting that the UK Government do not issue further licences in Scotland as the powers over licencing are due to be devolved.

In his statement to Parliament Mr Ewing set out that the Scottish Government will undertake additional work to increase the evidence base for decision making on this issue.

In particular Mr Ewing set out that the Scottish Government will:

• Undertake a full public consultation on unconventional oil and gas extraction
• Commission a full public health impact assessment
• Conduct further work into strengthen planning guidance
• Look at further tightening of environmental regulation.

Richard Dixon, Director of Friends of the Earth Scotland said: “a halt on the industry while a full examination of health and environmental impacts is carried out is very welcome”

Lang Banks, Director of WWF Scotland said: “ Good to see Scottish Government announce UK's first moratorium on onshore oil & gas fracking.”

Industry bodies including Ineos and the UK Onshore Operators Group also welcomed the announcement.

Ken Cronin, Chief Executive of the UK Onshore Operators Group said: “We recognise that the general public have concerns about the issues around fracking and we welcome this opportunity to present the facts to the Scottish people.”

A Spokesman for Ineos said: “ We understand the importance of public consultation to assess the impact of unconventional oil and gas. We welcome the Scottish Government’s decision to manage an evidence based approach and the opportunity for Ineos to provide detailed information.”