HYDRAULIC FRACTURING (FRACKING)

That this House believes a moratorium should be placed on onshore and offshore exploration, development and production of coal bed methane, shale oil and shale gas by withdrawing UK licences for hydraulic fracturing (fracking), at least until the publication of a detailed environmental impact assessment into the practice; notes that hydraulic fracturing can cause the contamination of local water sources such as aquifers, which provides about 30 per cent. of the UK's water; further notes that amongst a variety of adverse environmental impacts, the process of fracking can cause serious well blowouts, which put both workers and local communities at risk; does not consider that the production of hard to reach fossil fuels is compatible with efforts to achieve the statutory UK carbon budgets; and, therefore, urges the Government instead to give greater support to the generation of energy from renewable sources.