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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with the Home Office on preventing intimidation of people legally involved in fracking.

Peaceful protest is a vital part of a democratic society. People must be free to gather together and to demonstrate their views, provided that they do so within the law.

But protestors' rights must be balanced with the rights of others to go about their business without fear of intimidation or serious disruption to the community. Rights to peaceful protest do not extend to violent or threatening behaviour and the police have powers to deal with any such acts.

BEIS and the Home Office have regular discussions across a wide range of topics of mutual interest, including protest activity related to fracking.