Dan Jarvis
Dan Jarvis has been the Labour Party Member of Parliament for Barnsley Central since 2011. In the 2015 general election, Jarvis retained his seat with a strong majority of 12,435. [1]
Jarvis served as the shadow minister for justice form 2013 to 2015. [1]
Stance on fracking
This article is part of the Spinwatch Fracking Portal and project |
Jarvis's constituency includes two oil and gas licence blocks, awarded by the Oil and Gas Authority under the 14th licensing round in 2015. One shale license was awarded to INEOS and one to IGas. There are plans for two shale wells and 2D and 3D seismic surveying; no applications are currently underway. [2]
Responding to the fracking licenses, Jarvis wrote on his own website:
- ' I have very serious concerns regarding the safety and sustainability of extracting shale gas as an energy source.'
- 'The news that the Government has awarded energy companies new licenses to explore for oil and gas in the Barnsley area is deeply troubling.'
- 'The Government has attempted to make the case for the benefits of shale gas extraction, but we cannot risk significant damage to our environment or to jeopardise our climate change commitments. I therefore believe that there should be a moratorium on fracking, both in Barnsley and across the country.' [3]
Despite these words, Jarvis was previously absent for a vote on a moratorium on fracking in January 2015.
Jarvis wrote a follow up piece in March 2016, saying:
- 'The reality is that extracting shale gas will not solve our long-term energy problems and could hamper our efforts to develop more sustainable and renewable forms of energy.' [4]
Voting record
Jarvis has a mixed voting record on fracking. [5]
- 26 January 2015: voted in favour of making fracking companies apply for an environmental permit before conducting exploratory drilling. He was absent for a vote on 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 against weakening regulations on fracking in protected areas and national parks.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dan Jarvis MP www.parliament.uk, accessed 27 May 2015
- ↑ Oil and gas: licensing rounds, GOV.uk, accessed 14 November 2016.
- ↑ Concerns about potential fracking sites in Barnsley, MP's website, 1 September 2015, accessed 28 December 2016.
- ↑ Ongoing concerns about potential fracking in Barnsley, MP's website, 10 March 2016, accessed 28 December 2016.
- ↑ TheyWorkForYou | Dan Jarvis, TheyWorkForYou, accessed 28 December 2016.