Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will review the merits of the Government's assistance for fracking in China.

All of the support we provide through our Prosperity Fund is already very carefully considered, including to the energy sector in China. The overall purpose of the Fund is to promote inclusive growth whilst contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Fund’s climate change and energy programmes all support the SDGs, including SDG 7 (affordable, reliable, sustainable modern energy) and SDG 13 (climate action). Sharing UK expertise, including on environmental regulation will help ensure that China’s planned development of its unconventional gas resources is done to high standards, and is managed as part of a transition to a low carbon energy system. This will reduce emissions, as well as support economic development and poverty reduction.