Mark Spencer
Mark Spencer has been the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Sherwood since May 2010. [1] In the 2015 general election Spencer retained his seat with a majority of 4,647. [2]
From May 2015 to July 2016, Spencer served as a parliamentary private secretary to the secretary of state for DEFRA Liz Truss.[3] In July 2016, he was promoted to a new role in the whip's office under chief whip Gavin Williamson. [4]
Stance on fracking
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This article is part of the Spinwatch Fracking Portal and project |
Spencer has expressed support for fracking. Responding to concerns from local constituents in October 2015, Spencer said:
- 'I fully understand and appreciate people’s concerns about fracking, but I’d like to reassure you that the Government is creating a regulatory regime that provides clear, strong protections for the environment. With these in place, I think it is right that we explore and make use of shale gas and oil. The opportunity to extract this energy, as well as to secure jobs and investment, cannot be ignored.' [5]
Spencer's constituency includes eight oil and gas licence blocks, awarded by the Oil and Gas Authority under the 14th licensing round in 2015. Six shale licences were awarded to INEOS, one conventional licence went to Blackland Park, and one abandoned mine methane vent licence went to Alkane Energy. There are plans for four shale wells, three hrz frac well and 2D and 3D seismic surveying; no applications are currently underway. [6]
In January 2017, a freedom of information request by Friends of the Earth revealed INEOS plans to conduct seismic surveying in Sherwood Forest, a national nature reserve in Spencer's constituency. [7] Spencer has previously voted in favour of allowing fracking to take place under national parks and protected areas.
Spencer is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Oil and Gas.
Voting record
Spencer has a generally voted against increased regulations on fracking . [8]
- 26 January 2015: voted against making fracking companies apply for an environmental permit before conducting exploratory drilling. He also voted against an amendment to the Infrastructure Bill to include an 18 month moratorium on fracking.
- 11 February 2015: voted in favour for 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.
Staff
- Benjamin Bradley - Councillor, Ashfield District Council [9]
- David Sforza [9]
Select Committees and APPGs
- Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Nov 2013 - Mar 2015
- Backbench Business Committee Nov 2013 - Dec 2013
- Environmental Audit Committee Jul 2010 - Mar 2015
- All Party Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Oil and Gas member from May 2015 onwards
- All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture - Chair [10]
- All-Party Parliamentary Group for Food and Drink Manufacturing - Treasurer[11]
Notes
- ↑ Mark Spencer MP www.parliament.uk, accessed 29 May 2015
- ↑ Sherwood parliamentary constituency BBC News, 8 May 2015, accessed 29 May 2015
- ↑ Guido Fawkes PPS reshuffle in full, 29 May 2015, accessed 1 June 2015.
- ↑ BenIreland, Sherwood MP Mark Spencer given role in Theresa May's new Government during re-shuffle, Nottingham Post, 17 July 2016, accessed 27 January 2017.
- ↑ Response to letters about fracking, MP's website, accessed 29 December 2016.
- ↑ Oil and gas: licensing rounds, GOV.uk, accessed 14 November 2016.
- ↑ Sherwood Forest fracking plans revealed, Friends of the Earth, 1 January 2017, accessed 3 January 2017.
- ↑ TheyWorkForYou | Mark Spencer, TheyWorkForYou, accessed 29 December 2016.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Register of interests of members' secretaries and research assistants, 23 March 2016, parliament.uk, accessed 25 April 2016
- ↑ Science and Technology in Agriculture APPG,www.parliament.uk, accessed 16 November 2015
- ↑ Food and Drink APPG,www.parliament.uk, accessed 18 November 2015
