Britain must develop fracking to free itself from dependence on Russian gas, Tory former chancellor Lord Lawson of Blaby has told the Lords.
At question time, Lord Lawson said the strongest opponents of fracking in Britain and mainland Europe were the Russians, whose economy was largely dependent on gas exports.
“Isn’t it much more sensible that we should develop our own resources, be free from this threat of dependence on Russia and have cheaper gas?” he said.
Lord Lawson told ministers this would provide a “real boost” to the North West of England “where the richest shale seams exist”.
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy minister Lord Henley said the ex-cabinet minister was right.
“There are other countries who are over-dependent on imports from Russia and it is not surprising that Russia opposes our attempts to look at the opportunities available from domestic shale gas,” Lord Henley said.
But Liberal Democrat Baroness Featherstone urged the Government to “end the ugly and unnecessary distraction of fracking” and give more priority to energy efficiency.
Lord Henley said energy efficiency was “wonderful” and made a considerable difference but Britain should do everything it could to “tap into the potential” of domestic shale gas.
He said there was a lot to be said for making the country less reliant on energy imports.
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