Decisions on fracking in Wales will be devolved under Labour

Decisions on fracking in Wales would be devolved to the Welsh Assembly under Labour, it has been announced. In the meantime, there will be a moratorium on fracking in Wales.

Speaking in the Vale of Glamorgan, the Shadow Welsh Secretary Owen Smith said that “it is right that decisions like these are taken close to the communities that might be affected.”

The Planning Minister in Wales, Carl Sargeant, welcomed the move towards devolution as he announced the moratorium on Welsh fracking:

“Although we apply a precautionary principle in relation to fracking, to my mind there are still uncertainties about the technology and processes associated with it.  I will now be strengthening that position and stopping any local planning authority approving any planning application for fracking.  As a first step, I will be writing to all local planning authorities requiring them to inform me of any application to frack, and therefore imposing a moratorium on fracking in Wales.”

Earlier this week, Shadow Energy Minister Caroline Flint condemned the Government for making a u-turn and trying to quietly remove safeguards from fracking legislation that had been included by Labour.

Welsh Labour’s conference begins today in Swansea.