Ban on Fracking for Shale Gas Bill

Steve Brine Excerpts

Wednesday 19th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[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?

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Rees-Mogg]

I think my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester (Steve Brine) wanted to intervene, and I will happily give way to him.

[Steve Brine]

That is very kind of the Secretary of State. I am not concerned about the threat that local consent will go the wrong way in my constituency, because I do not believe for a minute that my constituents would give consent to fracking in our area. The shadow Secretary of State took an intervention about the Planning Inspectorate, and the Secretary of State said that local people will have a veto over that issue. Will he be clear that the Planning Inspectorate will not have a veto over local people?

[Mr Rees-Mogg]

Let me be absolutely clear: local communities will have a veto. If fracking does not get local consent—what form that local consent must take will be consulted on, and it could be, as my right hon. Friend the Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton asked, by local referendum. That is what the consultation will be about. If local consent is withheld, that is a veto and it will not be overruled by national Government.