Question to the Wales Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect a response from (1) the Government of Wales, and (2) each of the political parties in the National Assembly for Wales, in relation to the issue of responsibility for the licensing of onshore fracking for gas to be transferred to the National Assembly.

The Government is working with the four main political parties in Wales to agree a consensus on the future of Welsh devolution by St David’s Day. This includes consideration of whether Smith Commission proposals such as the devolution of the licensing of onshore oil and gas extraction warrant further consideration in the context of Wales.