Energy Secretary slammed for 'shamefully' revealing Jackdaw decision to media before telling MPs

The Energy Secretary has been scolded for failing to reveal the approval of the controversial Jackdaw gas field to MPs before telling the media. Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle berated Miatta Fahnbulleh and the Government over the decision in a furious statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday. He also criticised Peckham MP Ms Fahnbulleh for failing to turn up and make a statement to Parliament on the issue, instead sending her junior minister while she took part in media interviews and a visit to Shell UK's St Fergus Gas Terminal in Aberdeenshire. Speaker Sir Lindsay HoylePA WireSir Lindsay said: “It is shameful that this statement was not made to the House [of Commons] 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 rather than the members of both sides.”He added: “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.”The Government’s plans to approve the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea were widely reported on Tuesday night. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh and Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey during a visit to Shell UK's St Fergus Gas Terminal in Peterhead, AberdeenshirePAMs Fahnbulleh backed the scheme, which is expected to start supplying gas to British homes and firms within weeks. She is now also under pressure to approve the separate Rosebank oil and gas field as a further sign of commitment to the North Sea and domestic energy production.The Government announced a new fund to funnel North Sea tax revenues into green energy schemes but the Prime Minister was condemned by environmental groups for the decision to back Jackdaw.Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh during a visit to Shell UK's St Fergus Gas Terminal in Peterhead, AberdeenshirePAThe approval ends months of speculation about the future of the Jackdaw project, which owner Adura said could deliver around 6% of UK North Sea gas production.Read MoreSir Lindsay added: “I’m sure there will be a leak inquiry, or is it that this department is deliberately briefing out to the media?”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.