HYDRAULIC FRACTURING (FRACKING)

That this House believes a moratorium should be placed on onshore and offshore exploration, development and production of shale gas via the withdrawal of UK petroleum exploration and drilling licences at sites utilising hydraulic fracturing (fracking) processes, at least until the publication of a detailed environmental impact assessment into the practice; notes that hydraulic fracturing can contaminate local water sources such as aquifers, which provide about 30 per cent of the UK's drinking water; further believes the production of hard to reach fossil fuels is not compatible with efforts to achieve the UK's statutory carbon budgets; and therefore urges the Government instead to give greater support to the generation of energy from renewable sources.