Scotland to be Excluded from New UK Fracking Rules

The UK government has agreed to exclude Scotland from impeding legislation that will making it easier for fracking firms to drill for shale gas.

The Infrastructure Bill currently going through Westminster is set to allow underground access in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not Scotland.

The Scottish government, the Scottish Labour Party and the Scottish Green Party had opposed the bill which would apply to residential areas.

Scottish energy minister Fergus Ewing said that the decision was a "victory for common sense".

The effect will be to leave the current arrangement in Scotland as they are, paving the way for any changes to underground access to be decided in the future by the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Parliament is expected to gain control over onshore shale gas exploration as a result of the cross-party recommendations of the Smith Commission, made in the wake of the independence referendum.

Labour shadow energy minister Tom Greatrex had lodged amendments to the bill requesting that full powers over shale gas exploration be given to the Scottish Parliament ahead of the general election in five months' time.

Commenting on the move, Greatrex said: "It is a vindication of the Scottish Government's continued objections to UK Government plans to remove the right of Scottish householders to object to unconventional oil and gas drilling under their home.

"We're glad the UK Government has finally taken this on board - especially as 99 per cent of respondents to their own consultation also opposed the move."