MARK Williams, MP for Ceredigion, has criticised the government over the vote to allow fracking under National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The vote was held through a ‘Deferred Division’, which meant that no debate on the plans was allowed.

Mr Williams said: “It is absolutely outrageous that a vote on such an important issue was held in this way. This is nothing more than the Government sneaking through these plans without allowing MPs to debate them.

“The government previously stated that fracking would be completely banned under Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, National Parks and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Yet these plans fly in the face of this commitment.

“The government has constantly avoided Parliamentary scrutiny on the issue of fracking, which I believe does a serious disservice to the public and to their representatives in Parliament.”