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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to simplify planning and administrative processes required before exploratory drilling can take place for shale gas.

Before shale operations begin, it is important that a developer is required to obtain all the necessary permissions, including planning and environmental permits.

The UK has an effective planning system to consider and scrutinise unconventional oil and gas developments. On 16 September 2015, the Government published a joint Written Ministerial Statement[1] to make the planning system faster and fairer for those affected by new development, recognising that no one benefits from uncertainty caused by delay. We will keep the regulatory regime for shale under review as the industry develops to ensure it is proportionate and fit for purpose.

[1] http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2015-09-16/HCWS202/