Difference between revisions of "Mark Menzies"
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| − | [[File:Mark Menzies.png|right|thumb|200px| | + | [[File:Mark Menzies.png|right|thumb|200px|Mark Menzies, MP for the Fylde. Source: Andrew Marr Show, 30 March 2014]]'''Mark Menzies''' has been the UK [[Conservative Party]] MP for Fylde since 2010.<ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mark-menzies/3998 Mark Menzies], UK Parliament, accessed 10 September 2013.</ref> |
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| − | + | In the 2015 general election Menzies retained his seat with a majority of 13,224. <ref> [http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mark-menzies/3998 Mark Menzies] ''parliament.uk'', accessed 12 November 2015 </ref> | |
| + | Menzies' constituency is home to the [[BAE Systems]] factory which builds the Eurofighter Typhoon jet sold under multi-billion pound contracts to countries including Saudi Arabia and Qatar. In March 2018 a report by the ''I News'' revealed that since 2013 Menzies had taken up eight all-expenses-paid overseas trips, including three to Saudi Arabia and three to Azerbaijan.<ref>Cahal Milmo, [https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/revealed-700k-hospitality-bill-mps-visits-repressive-regimes/ Revealed: The £700k hospitality bill for MPs’ visits to repressive regimes], ''I News'', 4 March 2018, accessed 21 March 2018 </ref> Menzies is a member of several all-party parliamentary groups, including on Bahrain and Azerbaijan. | ||
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| + | ==Stance on fracking== | ||
| + | {{Template:Fracking badge}} | ||
| + | ===Tory MPs losing patience with Coalition's approach on fracking=== | ||
Menzies's constituency is the only place where high-pressure high-volume fracking has so far occurred. | Menzies's constituency is the only place where high-pressure high-volume fracking has so far occurred. | ||
| − | In November 2014 during a House of Commons adjournment debate on fracking, Menzies criticised the Coalition government for its lax regulation of the industry. He commented that, | + | In November 2014 during a [[House of Commons]] adjournment debate on fracking, Menzies criticised the Coalition government for its lax regulation of the industry. He commented that, |
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:The public perception is there that the regulatory function in this country is still not up to speed with the challenges of onshore oil and gas activity. | :The public perception is there that the regulatory function in this country is still not up to speed with the challenges of onshore oil and gas activity. | ||
Extra resources to regulate the industry were essential he argued. | Extra resources to regulate the industry were essential he argued. | ||
| + | :If we don’t do that, members of parliament like myself will find it very difficult to support this going forward because we will not allow anything to take place in our constituencies where the regulation is not robust, where the inspection is not independent, where the inspections are not unannounced. Anything short of that you will start to test the good will of members such as myself and the honourable member for Lancaster and Fleetwood [[Eric Ollerenshaw]]. | ||
| − | + | ===Cuadrilla fracking at Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road=== | |
| + | In February 2014, [[Cuadrilla]] applied to drill and frack eight shale wells across sites in Lancashire Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road, both within Menzies' constituency. <ref> Fiona Harvey and Adam Vaughan, [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/04/cuadrilla-two-new-lancashire-fracking-sites-shale-gas Cuadrilla announces two new Lancashire fracking sites], ''The Guardian'', 4 February 2014, accessed 23 November 2016. </ref> In June 2015, Lancashire County Council rejected the company's application. <ref> [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-33277517 Roseacre Wood fracking bid rejected by Lancashire councillors], ''BBC News'', 25 June 2015, accessed 19 September 2016 </ref> Cuadrilla appealed the decision to a public inquiry, which lasted between February and March 2016, the determination of which was passed to communities secretary [[Sajid Javid]]<ref>Frances Perraudin, [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/feb/09/lancashire-county-council-fracking-cuadrilla-public-inquiry Lancashire council's fracking refusal was 'democracy in action'], ''The Guardian'', 9 February 2016, accessed 13 September 2016</ref> In October 2016, the refusal by Lancashire county council of [[Cuadrilla]]'s fracking application at Preston New Road was overturned. <ref> Adam Vaughan, [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/06/uk-fracking-given-go-ahead-as-lancashire-council-rejection-is-overturned Fracking in UK given go-ahead as Lancashire council rejection overturned], ''The Guardian'', 6 October 2016, accessed 6 October 2016.</ref> The application for the Roseacre Wood site is still undetermined. | ||
| − | In January 2015 | + | In response to the decision, Menzies said: |
| + | :'I am disappointed by the decision over the Preston New Road site as I have said many times that councillors made their decision following a thorough and lengthy debate on the issues involved and those decisions should be upheld.' | ||
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| + | :'Where Roseacre Wood is concerned, the Secretary of State clearly felt that traffic around the site was a serious issue which had not been addressed by Cuadrilla’s application. That decision has now been deferred for a later date.' | ||
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| + | :'While I may be disappointed with these decisions, now is not the time to sit back and be despondent but to carry on working hard to ensure the Government meets its responsibilities surrounding the regulation of this industry.' <ref> [http://www.markmenzies.org.uk/news/mark-menzies-mp-urges-secretary-of-state-to-dismiss-fylde-shale-gas-site Mark Menzies MP urges Secretary of State to dismiss Fylde shale gas site], ''Mark Menzies website'', 7 October 2016, accessed 23 November 2016. </ref> | ||
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| + | In November 2016, Menzies wrote to the secretaries of state for communities and local government, health, and business, energy and industrial strategy, demanding to know on what grounds the decision in October was made, and whether any of the recommendations from investigations into the impacts on fracking had been acted upon. <ref> [http://www.refracktion.com/index.php/has-the-penny-finally-dropped-for-mr-menzies/ Has the penny finally dropped for Mr Menzies?], ''Refracktion.com'', 23 November 2016, accessed 23 November 2016. </ref> | ||
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| + | ===APPG on shale gas regulation and planning meetings=== | ||
| + | At a meeting of the [[All-Party Parliamentary Group on Shale Gas Regulation and Planning]] in September 2016, Menzies called on fracking companies to offer more reassurances to communities by having more open conversations with government on their intentions. <ref> [http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/environment/mp-demands-assurances-from-fracking-companies-1-8117980 MP demands assurances from fracking companies], ''Blackpool Gazette'', 10 September 2016, accessed 23 November 2016. </ref>. | ||
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| + | ===Voting record=== | ||
| + | Menzies has voted a mixture of for and against increased regulation on fracking. <ref> [https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/24804/mark_menzies/fylde/divisions?policy=6741 TheyWorkForYou | Mark Menzies], ''TheyWorkForYou'', accessed 23 November 2016. </ref> | ||
| + | *26 January 2015: voted against making fracking companies apply for an environmental permit before conducting exploratory drilling. However, he was one of 52 MPs who voted in favour of an amendment to the Infrastructure Bill to include an 18-month moratorium on fracking. | ||
| + | *11 February 2015: voted against requiring more pre-conditions for where fracking can take place. | ||
| + | *16 December 2015: voted in favour of weakening regulations on fracking in protected areas and national parks. | ||
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| + | ==Saudi Arabia visit== | ||
| + | *Name of donor: [[Shura Council of Saudi Arabia]] Address of donor: Al Yamamah Palace, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): Flights, accommodation, internal transport and hospitality with a total value of £6,722.14 | ||
| + | : Destination of visit: Riyadh Dates of visit: 9-13 April 2017 | ||
| + | : Purpose of visit: to strengthen British-Saudi Arabian diplomatic ties. (Registered 13 June 2017) | ||
==Affiliations== | ==Affiliations== | ||
| + | *Vice-chair of the [[All-Party Parliamentary Group on Shale Gas Regulation and Planning]] (2016-17) | ||
*Former vice chair of the [[All Party Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Oil and Gas]], set up 2013 | *Former vice chair of the [[All Party Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Oil and Gas]], set up 2013 | ||
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*[[European Azerbaijan Society]] | *[[European Azerbaijan Society]] | ||
| + | *[[All Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy]] | ||
| + | *[[UK-Bahrain All-Party Parliamentary Group]] | ||
| + | *[[All-Party Parliamentary Group on Azerbaijan]] - Vice-chair <ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/150929/azerbaijan.htm Azerbaijan APPG Register], ''parliament.uk'', accessed 11 November 2015</ref> | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Latest revision as of 08:39, 22 March 2018
Mark Menzies has been the UK Conservative Party MP for Fylde since 2010.[1]
In the 2015 general election Menzies retained his seat with a majority of 13,224. [2]
Menzies' constituency is home to the BAE Systems factory which builds the Eurofighter Typhoon jet sold under multi-billion pound contracts to countries including Saudi Arabia and Qatar. In March 2018 a report by the I News revealed that since 2013 Menzies had taken up eight all-expenses-paid overseas trips, including three to Saudi Arabia and three to Azerbaijan.[3] Menzies is a member of several all-party parliamentary groups, including on Bahrain and Azerbaijan.
Contents
Stance on fracking
|
This article is part of the Spinwatch Fracking Portal and project |
Tory MPs losing patience with Coalition's approach on fracking
Menzies's constituency is the only place where high-pressure high-volume fracking has so far occurred.
In November 2014 during a House of Commons adjournment debate on fracking, Menzies criticised the Coalition government for its lax regulation of the industry. He commented that,
- The public perception is there that the regulatory function in this country is still not up to speed with the challenges of onshore oil and gas activity.
Extra resources to regulate the industry were essential he argued.
- If we don’t do that, members of parliament like myself will find it very difficult to support this going forward because we will not allow anything to take place in our constituencies where the regulation is not robust, where the inspection is not independent, where the inspections are not unannounced. Anything short of that you will start to test the good will of members such as myself and the honourable member for Lancaster and Fleetwood Eric Ollerenshaw.
Cuadrilla fracking at Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road
In February 2014, Cuadrilla applied to drill and frack eight shale wells across sites in Lancashire Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road, both within Menzies' constituency. [4] In June 2015, Lancashire County Council rejected the company's application. [5] Cuadrilla appealed the decision to a public inquiry, which lasted between February and March 2016, the determination of which was passed to communities secretary Sajid Javid[6] In October 2016, the refusal by Lancashire county council of Cuadrilla's fracking application at Preston New Road was overturned. [7] The application for the Roseacre Wood site is still undetermined.
In response to the decision, Menzies said:
- 'I am disappointed by the decision over the Preston New Road site as I have said many times that councillors made their decision following a thorough and lengthy debate on the issues involved and those decisions should be upheld.'
- 'Where Roseacre Wood is concerned, the Secretary of State clearly felt that traffic around the site was a serious issue which had not been addressed by Cuadrilla’s application. That decision has now been deferred for a later date.'
- 'While I may be disappointed with these decisions, now is not the time to sit back and be despondent but to carry on working hard to ensure the Government meets its responsibilities surrounding the regulation of this industry.' [8]
In November 2016, Menzies wrote to the secretaries of state for communities and local government, health, and business, energy and industrial strategy, demanding to know on what grounds the decision in October was made, and whether any of the recommendations from investigations into the impacts on fracking had been acted upon. [9]
APPG on shale gas regulation and planning meetings
At a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Shale Gas Regulation and Planning in September 2016, Menzies called on fracking companies to offer more reassurances to communities by having more open conversations with government on their intentions. [10].
Voting record
Menzies has voted a mixture of for and against increased regulation on fracking. [11]
- 26 January 2015: voted against making fracking companies apply for an environmental permit before conducting exploratory drilling. However, he was one of 52 MPs who voted in favour of an amendment to the Infrastructure Bill to include an 18-month moratorium on fracking.
- 11 February 2015: voted against requiring more pre-conditions for where fracking can take place.
- 16 December 2015: voted in favour of weakening regulations on fracking in protected areas and national parks.
Saudi Arabia visit
- Name of donor: Shura Council of Saudi Arabia Address of donor: Al Yamamah Palace, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): Flights, accommodation, internal transport and hospitality with a total value of £6,722.14
- Destination of visit: Riyadh Dates of visit: 9-13 April 2017
- Purpose of visit: to strengthen British-Saudi Arabian diplomatic ties. (Registered 13 June 2017)
Affiliations
- Vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Shale Gas Regulation and Planning (2016-17)
- Former vice chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Oil and Gas, set up 2013
- European Azerbaijan Society
- All Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy
- UK-Bahrain All-Party Parliamentary Group
- All-Party Parliamentary Group on Azerbaijan - Vice-chair [12]
Notes
- ↑ Mark Menzies, UK Parliament, accessed 10 September 2013.
- ↑ Mark Menzies parliament.uk, accessed 12 November 2015
- ↑ Cahal Milmo, Revealed: The £700k hospitality bill for MPs’ visits to repressive regimes, I News, 4 March 2018, accessed 21 March 2018
- ↑ Fiona Harvey and Adam Vaughan, Cuadrilla announces two new Lancashire fracking sites, The Guardian, 4 February 2014, accessed 23 November 2016.
- ↑ Roseacre Wood fracking bid rejected by Lancashire councillors, BBC News, 25 June 2015, accessed 19 September 2016
- ↑ Frances Perraudin, Lancashire council's fracking refusal was 'democracy in action', The Guardian, 9 February 2016, accessed 13 September 2016
- ↑ Adam Vaughan, Fracking in UK given go-ahead as Lancashire council rejection overturned, The Guardian, 6 October 2016, accessed 6 October 2016.
- ↑ Mark Menzies MP urges Secretary of State to dismiss Fylde shale gas site, Mark Menzies website, 7 October 2016, accessed 23 November 2016.
- ↑ Has the penny finally dropped for Mr Menzies?, Refracktion.com, 23 November 2016, accessed 23 November 2016.
- ↑ MP demands assurances from fracking companies, Blackpool Gazette, 10 September 2016, accessed 23 November 2016.
- ↑ TheyWorkForYou | Mark Menzies, TheyWorkForYou, accessed 23 November 2016.
- ↑ Azerbaijan APPG Register, parliament.uk, accessed 11 November 2015
