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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has determined the size of control zones covering (a) residential dwellings and (b) businesses in which fracking will not be permitted to take place.

The development of shale gas will need to meet rigorous safety and environmental standards set by regulators including the Environment Agency, the Health and Safety Executive, and the North Sea Transition Authority. Drawing on lessons from around the world, the Government will ensure that hydraulic fracturing for shale gas is done with as little environmental impact as possible.