Mr Wheelhouse says to put this into immediate affect the government has written to local authority.

The energy minister says: "The decision means fracking cannot and will not take place in Scotland."

Mr Wheelhouse says he has been mindful that fracking activity would be in the central belt.

The minister says it is the responsibility of the government to make a decision in the best interests of the majority of people.

He says: "I can confirm the conclusion of the Scottish government is that we will not support the development of unconventional oil and gas in Scotland."

Mr Wheelhouse says of the responses to the consultation around 99% were opposed to fracking with just 1% in favour.

The energy minister says those in favour of it felt that the risks of unconventional oil and gas are no greater to the risks of other oil and gas measures in the industry.

Image source, bbc

Mr Wheelhouse says a strategic environmental assessment will be carried out following the parliamentary vote.

The energy minister says the main product from unconventional oil and gas is shale gas.

He says the government recognises gas will be an important part of the energy mix for the forseeable future.

The minister says the comprehensive consultation provided an opportunity for everyone to have a say on fracking.

He says the consultation received the second most responses ever.

The minister says it was clear the overwhelming number of respondents were opposed to fracking.

Image source, Scottish Government

You can find the results of the Scottish government's consultation on fracking here., external

Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse says this government has taken a cautious, evidence led approach to fracking.

Mr Wheelhouse says the government have taken a far-reaching investigation and included stakeholders and local communities.

The energy minister says he will set out the findings and government's position which will be brought to the parliament for a full debate and vote after recess.

Image source, STUART WALLACE/INEOS

• Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside.
• The extensive use of fracking in the US, where it has revolutionised the energy industry, has prompted environmental concerns.
• The first is that fracking uses huge amounts of water that must be transported to the fracking site, at significant environmental cost.
• The second is the worry that potentially carcinogenic chemicals used may escape and contaminate groundwater around the fracking site.
• But the industry suggests fracking of shale gas could contribute significantly to the UK's future energy needs

Find out more....

Image source, Getty Images

The Scottish government is set to announce its position on the future of fracking.

Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse will give a statement to MSPs at Holyrood on unconventional oil and gas.

There has been speculation, external that ministers are poised to rule out fracking north of the border.

A moratorium on the technique has been in place since 2015, and ministers have also ruled out underground coal gasification over environmental fears.

It is expected that MSPs will be given a vote on the topic later in the year before the final decision is taken.

The government has commissioned a series of expert reports on the controversial oil and gas extraction technique, and a public consultation was launched in January 2017. The results of the consultation will be published alongside Mr Wheelhouse's speech.

Members had previously voted to support a ban on fracking, but SNP members abstained from that vote.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse will now give a statement on fracking.

Health Secretary Shona Robison says in June she highlighted the report on 2015 figures.

Ms Robison says the provisional figure for 2016 does show a rise which is disappointing.

Mr Whittle says the NRS report was available to the minister in June.

Ms Robison says the 2015 data had just been published and was the gold standard of reports.

She says the provisional NRS data was published in March but it was provisional and does not become finalised until next year.

"SHONA Robison has been urged to set the record straight after she used out-of-date figures to tell Parliament that stillbirths were falling Giving a statement on the NHS Ayrshire and Arran maternity scandal at Holyrood in June, the health secretary said "our stillbirth rates and neonatal death rates continue to decline".

"Ms Robison also told MSPs and grieving parents in the public gallery "we should welcome the fact that fewer families every year are experiencing the loss of a baby.

"Her claim was based a report by the MBRRACE-UK pregnancy programme on stillbirth and neonatal deaths in Scotland in 2015.

"However, more comprehensive figures from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that both stillbirth and infant death rates rose in 2016.

"MBRRACE-UK recorded 191 stillbirths in 2015, a rate of 3.5 per thousand, while the NRS recorded 236 stillbirths in 2016, a rate of 4.3 per thousand."

Read more here. , external

Tory MSP Brian Whittle asks the Scottish government, in light of the health secretary's comment in June that the country's "stillbirth rates and neonatal death rates continue to decline", what its response is to the recent report by the National Records of Scotland, which suggests an increase in the rate in 2016.

SNP MSP Clare Haughey says breaking down the stigma is important and asks what has been the change in the number of CAMHS professionals.

Ms Watt says the number of CAMHS professionals has increased by 65% to almost double under this government.

Ms Watt says one of the actions of the Mental Health Strategy is to review mental health services in schools.