Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has condemned the Government's decision to announce the approval of the Jackdaw gas field to the media before Parliament, calling it "shameful". He also criticised Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh for not attending the House of Commons to make a statement on the issue.
Government announces Jackdaw approval to media first
Gas from the Jackdaw field is expected to start flowing within weeks after the UK Government approved the project to enhance domestic energy security and provide an economic boost. Ms Fahnbulleh sent a junior minister to the Commons on Wednesday to inform MPs, while she remained in Scotland following a broadcast round of interviews with journalists for morning TV and radio programmes.
Sir Lindsay said: "It is shameful that this announcement was not made to the House first, and it is an immense discourtesy to the House that the Secretary of State did not come here to make the statement. I'm sorry that Sky News is more important than the members of both sides. It is appalling treatment."
Speaker criticises 'appalling treatment' of MPs
He added: "I'm sorry that Aberdeen is more important than the MPs they've elected." Earlier, Sir Lindsay had said: "It is simply not good enough that it was trailed by the press last night and announced all over the media this morning by the Secretary of State before it could be properly scrutinised in this House."
He also questioned whether there would be a leak inquiry, asking: "I'm sure there will be a leak inquiry, or is it that this department is deliberately briefing out to the media?"
Minister responds and PMQs criticism
Energy minister Michael Shanks, who was present in the chamber ahead of his statement on Jackdaw, said he would take the comments back to his department.
During Prime Minister's Questions, Andy Burnham was asked about the Government's decision to approve the Jackdaw gas field. He said he had made a decision that the previous Tory government "messed up". Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the Labour Government for "dithering" for two and a half years to approve Jackdaw, and called for Labour to repeal its ban on all new oil and gas licences.
"We have the resources, the expertise and the people," she said. "What we have lost is the confidence to make tough decisions."
