The Energy Select committee will hear about the prospects of shale gas in the UK at an inquiry on 1 March.

MPs will question a group of industry experts in a second public evidence hearing on shale gas. They aim to find out the impact that drilling for shale could have on the environment, and the probability of shale resources running out.

In the current Electricity Market Reform consultation, the Government are investigating the use of shale gas as a potential source of low carbon energy to help it reach its emissions targets.

The UK has vast reserves of shale that are currently untapped, and in some quarters shale gas has been welcomed as an exciting new alternative for the future of UK energy supply.

However, others want a moratorium on shale gas exploration until the local and global environmental impacts are better understood.