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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which (a) companies, (b) organisations and (c) Government Departments are liable for compensation claims for damage as a result of induced seismicity from hydraulic fracturing operations.

As part of the Oil and Gas Authority’s (OGA) assessment of an application for hydraulic fracturing operations, the OGA requires the operator to have in place the necessary funds or an insurance policy (including third-party liability) that will cover unforeseen events. All companies on a licence share joint and several liability for obligations and liabilities that arise under it throughout the lifecycle of the licence.