LABOUR'S Scottish MPs will today vote to block fracking in the UK unless a series of conditions are met by energy firms.
The party has tabled an amendment to the Infrastructure Bill in the House of Commons, which states that the controversial technique for extracting gas from shale rock could not go ahead unless 13 loopholes in the current regulations are addressed.
It came as protests were held, including outside the Grangemouth refinery in Stirlingshire whose owners Ineos plan to spend millions of exploration.
Friends of the Earth Scotland, which organised several events protesting against fracking across Scotland on Sunday, said the Westminster report should "spell the end for the UK's dash for shale gas".
Mary Church, Head of Campaigns at FoE Scotland, said: "The MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee have clearly not been impressed by the industry's hype.
"The Committee says fracking would be a disaster for our climate targets and that far too many uncertainties remain over local impacts on water, soil and human health.
"The report also says shale gas is unlikely to be commercially viable anyway, so the UK Government's all-out-for-shale policy makes no sense whatsoever.
"Members of the Committee were so alarmed by the evidence presented to them that they have proposed one of three amendments to the UK Infrastructure Bill which would introduce a moratorium or ban on unconventional gas and fracking.
"We urge all MPs to do the right thing today and vote to put a stop to unconventional gas."
Labour's amendments include assurances that an environmental impact assessment must be carried out, that approval is granted by the Environment Agency and that community benefit schemes are set up by firms carrying out the work.
Scottish Labour has gone further, with leader Jim Murphy saying that if he becomes First Minister, a local referendum would be held before fracking is permitted. The pledge has been welcomed by environmental campaigners.
Labour's UK shadow energy minister Tom Greatrex said: "Labour have tabled an amendment to the Infrastructure Bill that will stop shale gas extraction. It will mean that it cannot go ahead until the right protections for the public and environment aware in place.
"The Tories seem prepared to accept shale gas at any cost, rather than listen to genuine and legitimate environmental concerns.
"In Scotland, SNP Ministers can already block any shale gas exploration or extraction if they want to. Scottish Labour have also already forced the UK government to stop changes to underground drilling permission applying to Scotland, meaning any changes can now only be made by Holyrood - so it is effectively devolved. The SNP are silent on using the existing veto in Scotland, or how they would use the new powers being devolved in the Smith Agreement."
Fergus Ewing, the Scottish Government energy secretary, is planning to update Parliament this week and set out plans for a "cautious" approach to the issue.
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