text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Infrastructure Bill - New Clause 1 - Environmental Permits for Hydraulic Fracturing Activities
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  @ MP voted aye to explicitly require an environmental permit for hydraulic fracturing activities. 
  @ MP voted no against explicitly requiring an environmental permit for hydraulic fracturing activities. 
  
  The majority of MPs voted against explicitly requiring an [https://www.gov.uk/environmental-management/environmental-permits environmental permit] for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_fracturing hydraulic fracturing] (fracking) activities. 
  
  MPs were considering the Infrastructure Bill[1]. 
  
  The proposed new clause rejected in this vote stated:
  
  :(1) The [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2010/9780111491423/contents Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010], Schedule 1, Part 2, Chapter 1, is amended as follows:
  
  :(2) After Section 1.2 insertâ
  
  :âSECTION 1.3
  
  :Hydraulic fracturing activities
  
  :Part A(1)
  
  :(a) carrying out exploration or assessments prior to hydraulic fracturing;
  
  :(b) drilling wells for use in hydraulic fracturing;
  
  :(c) process of hydraulic fracturing;
  
  :(d) decommissioning and long-term maintenance of hydraulic fracturing wells.â
  
  Had it not been rejected this amendment would have introduced a provision explicitly requiring an environmental permit for hydraulic fracturing activities (otherwise known as "fracking").
  
  During the debate prior to this vote Amber Rudd MP, Minister at Department for Energy and Climate Change, stated:[2]
  
  :On new clause 1, the Government welcome in principle the sentiment behind the proposed amendment to the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 to make explicit reference to hydraulic fracturing, and I would like to reassure hon. Members that the Government will continue the work we have initiated and introduce any appropriate changes to the regulations in due course. I therefore ask hon. Members not to press the new clause.
  
  
  
  ==
  
  * [1] [http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2014-15/infrastructure.html Parliament's webpage on the Infrastructure Bill]
  * [2] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2015-01-26c.574.2#g596.1 Amber Rudd MP, (Hastings and Rye, Conservative), House of Commons, Official Record, 26 January 2015] 
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  