Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether it is a requirement that an environmental impact assessment be prepared for all hydraulic fracturing developments.

Currently, where a development involving hydraulic fracturing is likely to have a significant effect on the environment, an environmental impact assessment is required by the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011. The Government is currently considering the detail of the amendment on hydraulic fracturing (NC19) introduced during the Infrastructure Bill last week, and we will make further statements in due course.