MPs quiz climate minister on regulating fracking earthquakes
Tue 11:28 pm +01:00, 18 Oct 2022The climate minister has told MPs the government is reviewing regulations on fracking-induced earthquakes.
Graham Stuart was replying this week to a series of written questions from Labour and Lib Dem MPs.
Labour’s Alex Norris, asked about whether any new legislation on fracking would include a traffic light system for monitoring seismic events caused by fracking.
Mr Stuart replied:
“The Government is reviewing this aspect of shale gas policy as part of a wider reflection on the most appropriate regulatory regime for the industry.”
Labour’s Rachael Maskell asked whether the Department of Busines, Energy and Climate Change would set a limit on acceptable levels of seismic events potentially caused by fracking.
The minister gave an identical reply.
In his answers, Mr Stuart repeated that the “government expected industry to work closely with local communities in order to build support for new developments”.
He also repeated comments made last week to the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) that domestic gas would help achieve UK carbon cuts.
The minister said in a response to Labour’s Charlotte Nichols:
“Domestic gas typically has less than half the production emissions of imported LNG and, therefore, when substituted for imports, contributes to the UK’s carbon emission reduction goals.”
Two professors, Paul Ekins and Peter Newell, have described as “extraordinary” the minister’s claims at the EAC that fracking was good for the environment.
In a letter to the Guardian, they said:
“Mr Stuart’s claim about the supposed lower carbon intensity of UK oil and gas extraction pales into insignificance compared with the carbon implications of adding to overall extraction of fossil fuels, and flies in the face of the warning by the International Energy Agency that no new oil, gas or coal development can take place if the world is to reach net zero by 2050.”
They also said new UK oil and gas would lock in dependency on infrastructure that would become increasingly useless. On fracking they said the government had introduced a moratorium because of the challenges of extracting it safely.
Questions and answers
Question by Alex Norris, Labour, Nottingham North
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential inclusion of a traffic light monitoring system for seismic activity at wells to be included in any forthcoming legislation of fracking.
Reply by Graham Stuart, climate minister, 17 October 2022
The Government is reviewing this aspect of shale gas policy as part of a wider reflection on the most appropriate regulatory regime for the industry.
Question by Charlotte Nichols, Labour, Warrington North
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential environmental impact of lifting the moratorium on fracking.
Reply by Graham Stuart, climate minister, 17 October 2022
Development of shale gas needs to meet rigorous safety and environmental standards set by regulators including the Environment Agency, the Health and Safety Executive and the North Sea Transition Authority.
Domestic gas typically has less than half the production emissions of imported LNG and, therefore, when substituted for imports, contributes to the UK’s carbon emission reduction goals.
Question by Rachael Maskell, Labour, York Central
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish the geological evidence that informed his proposal to end the moratorium on fracking.
Reply by Graham Stuart, climate minister, 17 October 2022
The Government is grateful to the British Geological Survey for their review of the science related to seismic events induced by hydraulic fracturing for shale gas exploration. The report ‘Recent scientific advances in the understanding of induced seismicity from hydraulic fracturing of shales’ has been received and carefully considered, and published on the Government website.
Question by Rachael Maskell, Labour, York Central
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish the government’s new strategy on fracking.
Reply by Graham Stuart, climate minister, 17 October 2022
The invasion of Ukraine and the resulting restrictions on gas supply across Europe has emphasised the need for home grown sources of energy to reduce our reliance on imports. The Government has been clear about this need and will continue to work with stakeholders including industry, expert regulators and communities to understand how developments can gain the support of local communities, contribute to the energy security of the UK and be consistent with our commitments to reduce emissions and protect the environment.
Question by Rachael Maskell, Labour, York Central
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government will take steps to ensure community consent prior to the establishment of fracking sites in (a) York and (b) England.
Reply by Graham Stuart, climate minister, 17 October 2022
The Government expects industry to work closely with local communities in order to build support for new developments.
Question by Rachael Maskell, Labour, York Central
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department will set a limit on acceptable levels of seismic shocks potentially caused by fracking.
Reply by Graham Stuart, climate minister, 17 October 2022
The Government is reviewing this aspect of shale gas policy as part of a wider reflection on the most appropriate regulatory regime for the industry.
Question by Jessica Morden, Labour, Newport East
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government’s decision to lift the ban on fracking will also apply to land within National Parks.
Reply by Graham Stuart, climate minister, 18 October 2022
Restrictions set out in the Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing Regulations 2015 and in licence conditions ensure that shale gas extraction will not be permitted in wells drilled from National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Sites of Specific Scientific Interest.
Question by Helen Morgan, Lib Dem, North Shropshire
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he will take to assess levels of local consent for fracking.
Reply by Graham Stuart, climate minister, 18 October 2022
The Government expects industry to work closely with local communities in order to build support for new developments.
