Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lee Rowley and Kwasi Kwarteng

Tuesday 22nd October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Lee Rowley (North East Derbyshire) (Con)]

5. What steps her Department is taking to review the regulation of hydraulic fracturing.

[The Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth (Kwasi Kwarteng)]

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s campaign on this fracking issue. We are all concerned about the impact of recent seismic events in Lancashire. My hon Friend knows that the Government have been clear that they will support the exploration of our shale gas resources only in a safe and sustainable way. The Oil and Gas Authority is undertaking an analysis of the data from Cuadrilla’s operations and we will set out our future approach as soon as we have considered that report.

[Lee Rowley]

I thank my right hon. Friend for his comments. Will he confirm that he will consider not just the OGA review, but feedback from constituencies such as mine that do not believe that fracking is the way forward?

[Kwasi Kwarteng]

My hon. Friend is right: this is one of the top issues that come across my desk. I feel the local concern about it, and we will take that into consideration when we reach a final decision.