Tom Greatrex – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Greatrex on 2014-04-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy that costs associated with the regulation and monitoring of exploration and extraction of unconventional gas are levied on industry.

Dan Rogerson

The issue of environmental licences and permits at individual shale gas sites is financed through the Environment Agency’s charges. The shale gas industry remains at an early exploration stage and the Agency will keep its charges under review in light of developments. In the meantime, the Environment Agency will ensure that it allocates sufficient resources within its overall budget to regulate a safe and sustainable shale gas industry.