I rise to support the Government on these crucial amendments and to congratulate the Minister on very deft handling of an issue that is difficult because it is complex and technical, and because there are some extreme opinions on the matter, some of which are
based on ideology rather than technology or science. I commend her efforts to try to find a middle way and reach a broad consensus.
I was encouraged by the stance taken by the Opposition through most of the passage of the Bill. They behaved responsibly, taking the important role of opposition seriously and scrutinising the Bill, and offering up amendments and criticisms that they thought were valid. However, I am very disappointed that the Opposition in the Lords and back here again are trying to have their cake and eat it. They are trying to hunt with the hounds and with the hare.
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The Opposition are trying to get the benefits that will flow from a responsible policy to unlock the potential of domestic British gas resources, as the hon. Member for Poplar and Limehouse (Jim Fitzpatrick) eloquently outlined. I agree about the economic benefits, but I see an even stronger imperative for fracking—the environmental imperative. If we are to get to a low carbon trajectory, the most important thing this country must do is get coal off the system. The most important thing that the global economy must do is get coal off the system. We can do that only if we substitute a large proportion of that coal with gas—certainly for the next decade, and probably for most of this century. We cannot do it with renewables alone. Renewables have a critically important role to play—their expansion is exciting and unstoppable—but they cannot replace coal on their own; gas is imperative.
The points made by the Labour Front Bencher to support the Opposition’s tenuous and rather synthetic disagreement with the Government were disappointing. The hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West (Tom Greatrex), speaking for Labour from the Front Bench, said that he had an example of the confusion on the Government’s part. He cited an amendment which, he said, was inconsistent because it said that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs had no direct role in regulating shale gas. That is absolutely correct, and I am surprised that he does not know that. Under our governmental arrangements, Departments set policy; regulation is the preserve of independent regulators. Ministers do not regulate; Ministers set policy, and the Environment Agency or other agencies enforce the regulation. The hon. Gentleman is usually on top of his brief. I am surprised that he should use such a flimsy and confused argument to try to undermine the consensual approach that we have had in the House.
I support the Government and very much hope that the House will throw out these unnecessary and unwelcome amendments.