Fracking moratorium and onshore fossil fuel exploration

That this House welcomes the Government’s continued commitment to the fracking moratorium, but expresses concern that current legislation defines hydraulic fracturing only by high fluid volume thresholds, excluding lower-volume techniques such as proppant squeeze which have previously caused seismic events, including at Preston New Road in Lancashire; notes that such methods, while technically outside the current definition, pose similar environmental and public safety risks; recognises the urgency of this issue, with proposals for proppant squeeze in North Yorkshire pending; and therefore calls on the Government to update planning legislation to include all forms of hydraulic fracturing within the moratorium to protect communities, meet seismic safety standards and align with the UK’s climate commitments and transition to renewable energy.