Oral Answers to Questions

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Excerpts

Thursday 6th November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Matthew Hancock]

Yes.

[Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con)]

The fracking regulations relate mostly to exploration offshore. How can the Minister assure those living in Ryedale and Hambleton, who have seen seismic surveys being conducted this summer, that the regulations are fit for purpose and that there will be no pollution or contamination of water supplies?

[Matthew Hancock]

Not only does the regulatory structure surrounding the exploration for shale gas apply offshore, there is also a distinct regulatory structure onshore, precisely to take into consideration the sorts of concerns that my hon. Friend understandably raises. One of my first acts in this job was to increase the protections for national parks, in order precisely to deal with the concerns of those who are worried about the impact of shale gas.