The Government accepted all of Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering’s recommendations made in their report. We have implemented the majority of recommendations in full, for example:

· We have introduced a requirement, through the Infrastructure Act, that the Secretary of State will not issue a hydraulic fracturing consent unless a range of conditions have been met. These include that appropriate arrangements have been made for the monitoring of emissions of methane into the air, the independent inspection of the integrity of the relevant well and for the environmental impact to be taken into account by the local planning authority.

· The British Geological Survey has published regional data on tectonic history and faulting in many prospective areas and DECC set out new requirements for operators to control seismic risks, including a ‘traffic light’ system to pause or halt fracking if unusual seismic activity is detected.

· DECC now requires operators to compile an Environmental Risk Assessment, with the participation of the local community, at an early stage of developing shale gas projects. This is in addition to extensive guidance to drive high standards throughout the lifecycle of a project.

· The Infrastructure Act includes the requirement for relevant water companies to be statutory consultees.

We continue to respond as exploratory wells provide more data and information. For example, DECC is working with the industry to develop appropriate monitoring for the period after production ceases and the well is decommissioned.

The aim of the current regulatory framework is that wells are made safe so that they can be decommissioned with no need for on-going attention. In the UK very few instances are known of problems with decommissioned wells, and none of significant pollution caused by decommissioned wells.

There is, however, a case for further quality assurance, with some period of monitoring post-decommissioning. We are discussing suitable arrangements with regulators and industry. As regards monitoring of the site restoration, this is a matter for the planning authority.

In the 2014 Autumn Statement, the Government announced £31 million funding for a world-leading facility for research, technology and monitoring of the subsurface that will provide openly available data for academia, industry and regulators. The independent research will provide an evidence base for better regulation and to reassure the public that subsurface developments can be safe.

The current regulatory framework requires that wells are made safe so that they can be decommissioned securely. Few instances are known of problems with decommissioned wells, and none of significant pollution caused by decommissioned wells.

When operations finish, the licensee (and there may be more than one for each licence) is responsible for safe decommissioning of the well(s) and for restoring the well-site to its previous state or a suitable condition for re-use.

The key aim of the procedure for decommissioning a well is to ensure that the well will require no further work and ensure that it is permanently sealed.

The Health and Safety Executive scrutinises the design of all wells prior to any construction taking place. It also monitors well construction and will undertake joint visits to all new shale gas and oil wells with the Environment Agency. HSE also scrutinises the decommissioning/ abandonment process in the same way.

We have a stronger regulatory system than in the United States, and I think that is a good thing.

Defra does not hold this data.

In England we have robust regulations in place to prevent contamination of water supplies. The Environment Agency will ensure that no hydraulic fracturing will be permitted where groundwater and drinking water supplies could be affected.

My hon. Friend makes an important point. What we have set out is the overall level of financial support: £100,000 when a well is dug; up to £10 million, theoretically, because of the 1% of revenue that will be paid; and then this absolutely vital point about 100% retention of business rates, which could have a very significant effect for local government finance. The point that she makes is how that is divided up between parishes, districts and counties, and whether one looks at individual payments to individual households who might be inconvenienced. I think that we should look at very local options, making sure that parishes and individuals will benefit. That is something that colleagues will want to discuss and think about, so that we can get this right and help this industry to take off.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that up to date local plans are the key to delivering sustainable development that reflects the vision and aspirations of local communities. Through the National Planning Policy Framework we expect county and unitary councils to use their local plans to plan for minerals of national and local importance in their area. This includes onshore oil and gas.

Decisions on planning applications are made in accordance with the statutory development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. These considerations can include the planning issues raised by local people. Local planning authorities are required to undertake a formal period of public consultation, prior to deciding a planning application, as prescribed in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure)(England) Order 2010.

Shale gas has the potential to provide the UK with greater energy security, growth and jobs. The planning system is accompanied by separate environmental and health and safety provisions (overseen by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, by the Environment Agency and by the Health and Safety Executive) ensuring that a robust, comprehensive and safe regulatory regime is in place.

I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The requirements relating to environmental impact assessment are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011. When considering proposals for the exploration and production of shale gas, the relevant mineral planning authority will determine whether an environmental impact assessment is required. The Department publishes practice guidance to help secure the appropriate implementation of the directive.

The UK has a robust, comprehensive and safe regulatory regime in place for shale gas exploration. The Environment Agency's shale gas environmental risk assessment has found that the risks to the environment of hydraulic fracturing can be mitigated effectively through appropriate planning and permitting conditions and do not justify them objecting to any permitting or planning applications on the basis of the precautionary principle. Much of the activity proposed (e.g. flaring, borehole drilling and casing, surface run-off management) is not new and is commonly used in conventional onshore oil and gas exploration. However, the assessment of environmental risk in the case of hydraulic fracturing to explore for shale gas is site-specific and depending on local geological conditions the Environment Agency may object to future permitting or planning applications.

Since minerals extraction does have an environmental impact, it is important that every planning decision should be made only after very careful consideration of all the relevant planning issues, including the likely effects of the proposed development on the surrounding area, and taking into account the views of local residents. In addition, applications for new shale gas sites in England, whether for exploratory drilling or full production, may be subject to an environmental impact assessment if there are deemed to be any significant environmental effects.

I can certainly reassure my hon. Friend that communities will be fully consulted. We have made it clear that the regulatory regime is strong, and it will be strengthened if need be. We have put in the co-ordination that will give her constituents the reassurances that they need.