TFN poll: should Holyrood ban fracking?
Should the Scottish Parliament ban fracking?
- Yes
- 157
- No
- 38
Calls have been made for the Scottish Parliament to ban fracking.
MSPs voted to end the controversial practice this week - but the decision is non-binding.
This means that Scotland still faces the prospect of being subjected to the controversial energy extraction process – despite MSPs voting to forbid it.
A charged session of the Scottish Parliament this week saw politicians vote for an outright ban – but the minority SNP government is not compelled to act.
It came about after Labourforced a vote on the gas extraction technology – which opponents claim causes huge environmental damage.
The SNP – which supports a moratorium rather than an outright ban – abstained, leaving the pro-ban Labour, Green and LibDems to out gun the pro-fracking Tories by 32 to 29.
Nationalists have said a ban could stray into legislative territory reserved to Westminster, which could leave the Scottish Government open to a legal challenge, and thus pave the way for fracking firms.
The SNP – which included opposition to fracking in its recent Holyrood manifesto – also says it is conducting thorough research into the issue.
However, the Scottish Greens and Friends of the Earth Scotland insist the Scottish Parliament could introduce a complete ban on the technique.
So that's why we're asking: should the Scottish Parliament ban fracking?
Vote now and contribute to the debate by leaving a comment.
