Ban on Fracking for Shale Gas Bill

Rebecca Pow Excerpts

Wednesday 19th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Rees-Mogg]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I think his suggestion to have a rapid review of the evidence is eminently sensible.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

rose—

[Steve Brine (Winchester) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Rees-Mogg]

How can I not give way to my neighbour from Somerset?

[Rebecca Pow]

I thank my right hon. Friend for graciously giving way. He might want to clarify that this debate is a bit of a game, and is not exactly about fracking. If we are talking about fracking, scientific evidence and data is so critical—it is everything we base our policies on. Does he agree that the data should not just be about seismic activity, and that the effect on water will be critical? I do not just mean water that is put down the drilling space; I mean the effect on hydrology in future years. It is critical that the Government are seen to be serious about the scientific evidence on this.

[Mr Rees-Mogg]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend on both counts. She is right to say that trying to take control of the Order Paper is parliamentary interweaving rather than the substance of the debate. To take control of the Order Paper, people need to have won a majority in the election. That is how our system works The experience that we had in 2017 to 2019 proved how bad it is for Parliament when the Order Paper is messed around with, so I think that part of it is bad.

On the point regarding water, my hon. Friend is absolutely spot on. That is one of the keys to how things could be done safely, and we must be certain that the water used on site, and water that may be near sites, is safe.