Britain’s nascent shale gas industry has been dealt a fresh blow by a committee of MPs that has called for a moratorium on fracking and warned that the government was rushing through “undemocratic” laws to help the industry. David Cameron, prime minister, has strongly backed the development of shale gas, insisting that exploitation of Britain’s reserves could drive down the price of domestic energy and lessen the need for imports at a time when North Sea oil production was falling. More On this topic IN UK Politics & Policy But the environmental audit committee says fracking is not compatible with the government’s commitment to cutting climate change emissions. The new technology could also cause significant localised environmental damage and risks to public health, the committee will say — a claim disputed by the industry. Industry […]