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| MPs to vote on fracking under national parks | MPs to vote on fracking under national parks |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| MPs are to vote on whether to allow fracking under national parks amid calls for stronger safeguards. | MPs are to vote on whether to allow fracking under national parks amid calls for stronger safeguards. |
| Under government plans, fracking would only be allowed 1,200m below national parks, with drilling taking place from outside the protected areas. | Under government plans, fracking would only be allowed 1,200m below national parks, with drilling taking place from outside the protected areas. |
| Critics including Labour and Greenpeace have accused the government of a U-turn after it pledged an outright ban on fracking in national parks. | Critics including Labour and Greenpeace have accused the government of a U-turn after it pledged an outright ban on fracking in national parks. |
| Ministers said their plans will protect "our most precious landscapes". | Ministers said their plans will protect "our most precious landscapes". |
| Some MPs shouted their opposition to the draft regulations when they were presented in the Commons - and they are now likely to be approved in a ballot vote on Wednesday without a debate. | Some MPs shouted their opposition to the draft regulations when they were presented in the Commons - and they are now likely to be approved in a ballot vote on Wednesday without a debate. |
| Q&A: What is fracking? | Q&A: What is fracking? |
| MPs overwhelmingly rejected an outright ban on fracking in a Commons vote in January, during which ministers also pledged an "outright ban" on fracking in national parks. | MPs overwhelmingly rejected an outright ban on fracking in a Commons vote in January, during which ministers also pledged an "outright ban" on fracking in national parks. |
| Labour has said the government's plans, contained in a draft regulation, represent a U-turn on this commitment. | Labour has said the government's plans, contained in a draft regulation, represent a U-turn on this commitment. |
| The proposals, set out in July, would only allow fracking 1,200m below national parks, Areas of Outstanding National Beauty, the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads and World Heritage Sites. | The proposals, set out in July, would only allow fracking 1,200m below national parks, Areas of Outstanding National Beauty, the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads and World Heritage Sites. |
| Sites of Special Scientific Interest, which are designated to protect wildlife or geology, are not mentioned. | Sites of Special Scientific Interest, which are designated to protect wildlife or geology, are not mentioned. |
| Ministers said the strategy would create jobs while "safeguarding our most precious landscapes". | Ministers said the strategy would create jobs while "safeguarding our most precious landscapes". |
| MPs opposed the passing of the draft regulation when it was read out in the Commons on Tuesday evening. Because this happened after the conclusion of the day's main business, parliamentary rules required the vote to be deferred - until Wednesday. | |
| Under this process of so-called deferred divisions, MP will vote on the proposal by filling in ballot papers between 11:30 GMT and 14:00 GMT with the result announced later in the afternoon. The government is expected to win it. | |
| Shadow energy secretary Lisa Nandy accused ministers of using a "parliamentary backdoor" to try to approve the "weak regulations" without debate. | Shadow energy secretary Lisa Nandy accused ministers of using a "parliamentary backdoor" to try to approve the "weak regulations" without debate. |
| She said: "Fracking should not go ahead in Britain until stronger safeguards are in place to protect drinking water sources and sensitive parts of our countryside like national parks." | She said: "Fracking should not go ahead in Britain until stronger safeguards are in place to protect drinking water sources and sensitive parts of our countryside like national parks." |
| Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said the government had shown a "complete lack of regard for protecting some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK and its wildlife", while Greenpeace criticised the use of what it called an "arcane parliamentary process". | Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said the government had shown a "complete lack of regard for protecting some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK and its wildlife", while Greenpeace criticised the use of what it called an "arcane parliamentary process". |
| A Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesman said: "The UK has one of the best track records in the world for protecting our environment while developing our industries - these regulations will get this vital industry moving while protecting our environment and people. | A Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesman said: "The UK has one of the best track records in the world for protecting our environment while developing our industries - these regulations will get this vital industry moving while protecting our environment and people. |
| "Yesterday's Task Force for Shale Gas report confirmed exactly what we have been saying for some time - that with the right standards in place fracking can take place safely." | "Yesterday's Task Force for Shale Gas report confirmed exactly what we have been saying for some time - that with the right standards in place fracking can take place safely." |