The Lancaster MP has urged the new chancellor to rethink the government’s decision to reverse the moratorium on fracking.
Jeremy Hunt was addressing MPs in the House of Commons, where he announced a number of previously announced tax measures were being reversed, including the cut in the 20p rate of income tax, and reducing the Energy Price Guarantee Scheme from two years to six months.
Taking questions from MPs after the statement, Cat Smith pressed the chancellor to go further, when it came to investment in renewable energy.
She said: ‘’I know the chancellor has already performed quite a number of u-turns, but can I invite him to make another u turn, specifically on fracking.
‘’Given that renewable energy is nine times cheaper, wouldn’t it make good economic sense to invest in renewables rather than fracking?’’
In response, Mr Hunt said: ‘’We’re not too to do fracking unless it has local consent.
‘’But can I also say as someone who believes passionately that we’ve got to do more on climate change, it is not helping to import hydrocarbons from other countries and say that as a result we’re being very virtuous on reducing our own emissions.
‘’We need to do what it takes to reduce overall emissions.’’
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