The future of hydraulic fracturing in Scotland has been put up for public debate as the government launches a consultation website where people can express their views ahead of a vote on the development of shale gas in the country.

Scotland currently has a moratorium in place over the controversial technique of extracting shale gas, after the Scottish Greens and Liberal Democrats joined Labour to defeat the Conservatives in a narrow vote in June. The ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) abstained.

However, the government has since been pondering whether a ban should be put in place, with a decision expected in the second half of the year.

Before reaching a decision, Scotland launched the public consultation process through a website where communities, businesses and interest groups from across Scotland can express their position.

The consultation will run until 31 May. The responses gathered will be then independently analysed.

The move is the government’s attempt at encouraging"“informed dialogue and debate", Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said.

"This consultation does not set out or advocate a preferred Scottish government position or policy. Instead, we want to create space for dialogue and allow different perspectives to come forward," Wheelhouse said.

At the end of last year, a report from Health Protection Scotland (HPS) requested by the Scottish government, revealed that allowing companies to drill for shale gas in Scotland could bring billions of pounds to the country’s economy.

Research found that there would be an increase in traffic for a number of years due to industrial activity were fracking permitted, but that the probability of "felt earthquakes" was "very small".

It was also forecast that the job market in the region would boom, predicting between 470 to 3100 jobs potentially created, and value added to the Scottish economy to 2062 anywhere from £100 million ($124 million) to £4.6 billion.

Wheelhouse pledged at the time that the current fracking ban will continue pending the results of "scientific research and consultation".

Meanwhile, across England, where the UK government has been backing the development of shale gas, explorer Cuadrilla Resources started construction work at a site in Lancashire where it plans to drill as soon as the second quarter.

Permission here was initially denied by the local council, however, it was later awarded after UK Communities Secretary Sajid Javid intervened.

There have been protests outside the site since Cuadrilla began work on 5 January. Most recently, on Tuesday, four protesters locked themselves to fencing outside the entrance to the company’s site.

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Scotland launches consultation on fracking