SNP ministers have been urged to hurry up and ban fracking with a new law after entering the latest phase in a six-year crawl towards finalising the government’s policy.

It followed the start of a consultation on an environmental assessment of the government’s preferred position, which is not to support the unconventional gas extraction technique.

Energy minister Paul Wheelhouse said the government would also be consulting on an assessment of the business and regulatory impact.

The government is expected to announce a final policy position next year, however other parties said only a ban enshrined in legislation offered sufficient protection.

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, involves pumping chemicals and water at pressure into underground shale beds to release natural gas.

Critics say it poses a risk to climate change and public health, while advocates say it could support hundreds of new jobs and add millions to the economy.

Ineos, the operators of the Grangemouth refinery, who currently import shale gas from the US, have expressed an interest in sourcing it locally in Scotland.

Scottish Government progress on fracking has been painfully slow.

Ministers set up an expert panel in 2013, introduced a moratorium in 2015, ordered more research in 2016, consulted on fracking in 2017, wrongly told parliament last October that fracking had been banned, then admitted at the Court of Session in May that it hadn’t been.

Its official “preferred policy position” is not to support it.

Mr Wheelhouse said the views of the 2017 consultation, in which 99% of respondents opposed fracking, would be taken into account in arriving at the final policy position.

“It is anticipated that ministers will inform parliament of our policy on the development of unconventional oil and gas in Scotland in the first quarter of 2019,” he told MSPs.

Mary Church, of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “It is time for Nicola Sturgeon to be true to her word and commit to a full legal ban.

“A future minority Government could overturn the current policy not to support fracking with the stroke of a pen, and crucially, no recourse to Parliament or the will of the people.

“Only a legislative approach can ensure a robust, enforceable ban.”

Scottish LibDem Liam McArthur said: “Last year, Nicola Sturgeon told Parliament ‘fracking is being banned in Scotland, end of story’.

“Within months the Court of Session ruled that there wasn’t an effective ban in place and ministers extended a fracking license.

“This confusion at the heart of the Scottish Government’s approach has left communities affected both uncertain and apprehensive.”

Labour MSP Claudia Beamish MSP said: “Scottish Government processes and consultation seem to go on and on, and communities and business deserve clarity. Scotland must not have a transition fuel as we move towards a net zero emissions economy and society by 2050.”