Net-zero Emissions Target: Fossil Fuel Extraction Projects Debate
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Lord Fox
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Net-zero Emissions Target: Fossil Fuel Extraction Projects
Lord Fox Excerpts(3 years, 2 months ago)
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Lord Fox (LD)
In reply to my noble friend, the Minister set up a false dichotomy. I will answer his question: we do not want the oil to come from Surrey. However, Surrey County Council has granted permission to drill oil wells as part of the Horse Hill development. If these are developed, they will put 10 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. So will the Minister use his influence with his Conservative colleagues who run the council and get them to step back from this development—and, if he fails, will he ask his colleague to call this development in?
Lord Callanan (Con)
It is strange; I thought the Liberal Democrats were in favour of local planning control—obviously not in these particular cases. As the noble Lord is aware, that application is subject to an application in the Court of Appeal at the moment, and therefore I cannot comment on it.