TAUNTON Deane MP Rebecca Pow has welcomed new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's commitment to continue the ban on fracking.

Ms Pow, a former Environment Minister, had voiced her concerns after Liz Truss announced her intentkion to reverse the Conservative pledge to block fracking in this country.

But following Mr Sunak's comments at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday (Wednesday, October 26), Ms Pow said: "I am delighted that during his first PMQs the Prime Minister made it crystal clear that the fracking moratorium would be maintained as referenced in our 2019 manifesto.

"I’ve made the case for continuing the ban verbally and in writing and I’m delighted he has listened.

"I am pleased that he also stressed that we would continue to prioritise wider environmental protections too .and gave a firm commitment to deliver on all the ambitions passed through the Environment Act 2021 (which I was honoured to bring through Parliament) as well as what we signed up to at COP in Glasgow last year.”