Parliamentary Inquiry - Please submit your views
Subject to parliamentary business, the
Public Accounts Committee have announced
they are planning to hold an evidence session on Fracking which is pencilled in for Wednesday 13th November 2019.
See below for the subjects of interest.
This inquiry follows on from the questioning of the regulators at the Public Accounts Committee by Lee Rowley MP (Drill or Drop article here) where senior officials failed to give clear answers on decommissioning of fracking wells.
As the committee will take written evidence, we are encouraging our supporters to respond before the deadline (Click here for guidelines to submit and contact details). The deadline for written submissions is currently set to be Tuesday 5th November.
You can find our report to the National Audit Office
here.
Guidelines for submission
As the committee will usually take written evidence, we are encouraging our supporters to respond before the deadline (Click here for guidelines to submit and contact details)
The deadline for written submissions is currently set to be on Tuesday 5th November.
Scope of the inquiry
Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is a technique used to recover gas from shale rock. In England, this rock lies deep underground primarily in Yorkshire, the East Midlands and the North West. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (the Department) leads government’s policy for shale gas development; it believes shale gas could provide the UK with greater energy security through diversifying the sources of supply and is committed to developing a shale gas industry in England.
Fracking for shale gas is the subject of media, public and Parliamentary interest. The Department’s public attitudes survey shows the opposition to shale gas has increased from 21% to 40% between 2013 and 2019. Public concern has centred on the risks to the environment and public health; from fracking-induced earthquakes; and the adequacy of the environmental regulations in place.
A recent National Audit Office (NAO) report has found that progress in establishing a shale gas industry in England has been slower than government planned. In 2016, the Cabinet Office expected up to 20 fracked wells by mid-2020, but three wells have been fracked to date. The Department believes it can meet its climate change objectives while developing shale gas, but has not yet developed the necessary technology.
The report also notes that fracking has placed financial pressures on local bodies like councils and police forces, government departments and regulators. It estimates that at least £33m has been spent by public bodies since 2011m – £13.4m of which was spent by three local police forces on maintaining the security around shale gas sites.
On Wednesday 13 November, the Public Accounts Committee will question the Department, the Oil & Gas Authority and the Environment Agency on shale gas development and hydraulic fracturing activity, as well as the regulatory framework that governs these processes.