Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will include biodiversity offsetting requirements to any fracking licenses it grants.

In line with 2019 Conservative Manifesto commitments, the Government has adopted a presumption against issuing any further hydraulic fracturing consents. This position, an effective moratorium, will be maintained until compelling new evidence is provided addressing concerns around the prediction and management of induced seismicity.

The Government does not consider it necessary to apply offsetting requirements to activities subject to an ongoing moratorium.