Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer to Question 129263 on Energy: Prices, for what reason there is not a moratorium on fracking for oil.

The Government is not aware of any applications for hydraulic fracturing for oil.

While the 2019 Written Ministerial Statement setting out the Government’s effective moratorium on hydraulic fracturing refers to shale gas, the definition of hydraulic fracturing used is as set out in the Petroleum Act 1998. This definition does not differentiate between gas or oil and therefore applies to both.

This statement makes clear that on the basis of current scientific evidence, the Government will take a presumption against issuing any further Hydraulic Fracturing Consents, which are required before hydraulic fracturing operations can take place.

Future applications for Hydraulic Fracturing Consents, whether for oil or gas, will be considered on their own merits but industry should consider the position taken in relation to shale gas when considering any new developments.