Commenting on the substantial local concerns about fracking Nicholas Soames said; “It is clear that there is much local opinion which is understandably concerned about the exploration for onshore gas at Balcombe.

“Both the Government and the company, Cuadrilla, need to ensure that local people are in full possession of the accurate, transparent facts and not myths.

“I am satisfied that Cuadrilla are operating with all the necessary licences and permissions and that were they to find exploitable resources of shale gas or oil, a very vigorous regulatory regime would be imposed by the Environment Agency, the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

“When granting Cuadrilla a mining waste permit, the Environment Agency looked closely at the potential impact on water supply, one of local residents' concerns. The decision document makes clear that:

“we are satisfied that we have fully assessed the risk to surface water and groundwater and that there will be no unacceptable impact or risk of pollution.”

“I am myself in favour of exploiting other such energy resources that we have, but it must be done with all the environmental and safety constraints that inevitably have to apply and I do indeed have considerable sympathy for those who are nervous about the process; for my own part I truly believe that unconventional onshore gas is a natural resource that our energy short country would be truly mad not to exploit. I also believe that local people should have a real stake in the economic benefits of any finds.”

Notes

I draw your attention to two good articles by the Prime Minister and Michael Fallon MP, Minister of State for Energy and to some information on the Government and Environment Agency websites.

| Daily Telegraph, We cannot afford to miss out on shale gas by David Cameron, 12th August 2013

| Daily Telegraph, Our potential prize from fracking is huge by Michael Fallon, 1st August 2013

About shale gas and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) - ‘Questions and Answers’ on the Government website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/about-shale-gas-and-hydraulic...

Decision document recording the Environment Agency’s decision-making process when determining the Application for an Environmental Permit under the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2010:
https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/portal/permits/app/cuadrilla/b...

Government Policy: Providing regulation and licensing of energy industries and infrastructure
https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/providing-regulation-and-licensin...