We will shortly make an announcement about fracking in this country, in view of the considerable anxieties that are legitimately being raised about the earthquakes that have followed various fracking attempts in the UK. We will certainly follow up on those findings, because they are very important and will be of concern to Members across the House.

But I must say that this Government yield to nobody in our enthusiasm for reducing CO₂. We have cut carbon emissions massively in the UK and we were the first European country to commit to net zero by 2050, and that is what we are going to do. We can do it because we believe in a strong, dynamic, robust market economy that is delivering the solutions in clean technology that are deplored by the Labour party.

The Traffic Light System for monitoring induced seismicity was introduced after consideration of advice from three scientists, following operations at Cuadrilla’s Preese Hall site in 2011. The level of magnitude 0.5 at which operators must pause operations, was set in consultation with industry as an appropriate precautionary measure. There are no plans to review the traffic light system.

The Traffic Light System was introduced by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and was announced in a Written Ministerial Statement of 13 December 2012 (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/written-ministerial-statement-by-edward-davey-exploration-for-shale-gas).

It was adopted on the advice of three independent scientists who conducted an expert review of information available following seismic events at Preese Hall near Blackpool. The independent Oil and Gas Authority are now the regulatory body responsible for monitoring induced seismicity at hydraulic fracturing sites.

The expert review recommended that operations should be paused if an event was detected above a precautionary threshold of a magnitude 0.5 but did not specify a pause period. Before hydraulic fracturing operations can commence, a Hydraulic Fracture Plan must be agreed between the operator and regulators and a minimum pause of 18 hours is required following an event above this threshold. This pause period has been in place for all hydraulic fracture plans so far and has been applied during the regulation of operations at Preston New Road.

The Government has been clear that the development of domestic energy sources such as shale gas must be safe and environmentally sound. The UK has a robust regulatory system which provides a comprehensive regime for exploratory activities.

The Environment Agency has carried out an assessment of the environmental risks associated with hydraulic fracturing and the measures that are needed to ensure that the local environment is protected. Based on this, the Environment Agency has developed and published detailed guidance setting out the conditions that fracking operations must meet.

Businesses proposing to explore for oil and gas using hydraulic fracturing require environmental permits from the Environment Agency, which are subject to a detailed site-specific assessment. The permits set legally binding conditions on how activities are carried out so that the local environment is protected. The permit requires that the groundwater, surface water and air quality is monitored before, during and after operations. Extraction of shale gas takes place well below the aquifers that provide drinking water, which are usually located up to few hundred metres below ground. No fracturing is permitted less than 1,000 metres below the surface.

The Environment Agency carries out regular inspections, audits and unannounced spot checks to ensure compliance with the environmental permit.

As stated in my previous response of 6 April 2018 to Question 134603, the Government will continue to monitor progress of the shale gas industry and will revise its estimates as appropriate as the industry develops.

Each shale gas licensee (and there may be more than one for each licence) is responsible for their well(s).

The Government has been clear that it considers that the financial resilience of a company wishing to hydraulically fracture is a relevant consideration in the consents process. As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 January 2018, on Energy Policy, HCWS428, as a matter of policy we will look at the financial resilience of all companies wishing to carry out hydraulic fracturing operations alongside their application for Hydraulic Fracturing Consent to ensure companies have the financial capacity to meet their regulatory obligations, including protecting the environment.

If environmental damage does occur, remediation of the damage will be dealt with under the main regimes for dealing with contamination, the Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations 2009 and Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

There have been no specific estimates on the number of shale oil wells that will be in place by (a) 2025 or (b) 2030.

The Government will continue to monitor progress of the shale industry and will revise its estimates as appropriate as the industry develops.

In October 2017, the Government published a report summarising gas security, including consideration of the role of shale gas, over the next 20 years, available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gas-security-of-supply-strategic-assessment-and-review

Based on information provided by industry dating from 2016, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy previously estimated in 2017 that there could be around 155 wells by 2025. These figures are now considered to be out of date.

The Government will continue to monitor progress of the shale gas industry and will revise its estimates as appropriate as the industry develops.

The Department will determine Third Energy’s application for hydraulic fracturing at its Kirby Misperton site using the same criteria set out under Section 4A of the Petroleum Act 1998 (inserted by Section 50 of the Infrastructure Act 2015).

The Department is carefully considering the evidence submitted and will respond appropriately in due course.

On 4 November 2015, the Government set out proposals to ensure that hydraulic fracturing cannot be conducted from wells drilled at the surface of specified protected areas. [1] With regards to existing Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences, my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State is minded not to approve any proposed programme of works which includes carrying out of hydraulic fracturing from new or existing wells drilled at the surface in specified protected areas. We are now consulting with key stakeholders, including the industry and non-governmental organisations and will set out our proposals in a policy statement in due course.

[1] See https://www.gov.uk/guidance/oil-and-gas-licensing-rounds#surface-development-restrictions

On 4 November 2015, the Government set out proposals to ensure that hydraulic fracturing cannot be conducted from wells drilled at the surface of specified protected areas.¹ The proposed restrictions would be delivered through the inclusion of a licence condition in new Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences (PEDLs) and the development of a policy statement designed to inform the approval process for programmes submitted for approval under existing PEDLs.

The proposals are now subject to consultation with key stakeholders, including the industry and non-governmental organisations.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/oil-and-gas-licensing-rounds#surface-development-restrictions

On 4 November 2015, the Government set out proposals to ensure that hydraulic fracturing cannot be conducted from wells drilled at the surface of specified protected areas. [1] The proposals are now subject to consultation with key stakeholders, including industry and non-governmental organisations.

[1] See https://www.gov.uk/guidance/oil-and-gas-licensing-rounds#surface-development-restrictions

I did look into the issue, and I do not want to give the hon. Gentleman an inaccurate answer so I will go and check on the action taken after that meeting and see what I can tell him.