Asked by: Duncan Hames (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish without redaction the Shale Gas: Rural Economy Impacts report, published by her Department with redactions in March 2014.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The economic impact of fracking is a matter for the Department for Energy and Climate Change.
The paper that my Hon Friend refers to was an internal draft document. It was not analytically robust and was not signed off by Ministers. It has not been published and we have no plans to do so.
My department is responsible for the environmental aspects of this policy. The Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering review on shale gas concluded if fracking is properly regulated it is safe and has minimal environmental impacts.
Asked by: Duncan Hames (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of stormwater drainage in residential areas.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
Stormwater drainage is a matter for local authorities in their capacity as lead local flood authorities, and it is their responsibility to make an assessment of the risk. Local authorities are accountable to local people for the adequacy of the drainage infrastructure in their areas.