Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the contribution to the economy of Fylde of the shale gas industry to date.

The Government believes that communities should experience direct benefits from hosting hydraulic fracturing sites in their area. At the exploration stage, £100,000 in community benefits will be provided per well-site when hydraulic fracturing takes place and 1% of revenues at production stage will be paid out to communities.

I am pleased to see that these benefits are already being realised from Cuadrilla’s operations in Lancashire. Cuadrilla has spent almost £9million directly with suppliers based in Lancashire, has over 700 local companies registered with its supplier portal and has provided over £200,000 for local sponsorship schemes.