Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answers of 21 November 2016 to Questions 54021, 54017, 54073 and 57074, which recommendations of the Director of Public Health at Lancashire County Council's rapid health impact assessment of the shale gas exploratory stage at Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road are relevant to Public Health England's responsibilities.

The Director of Public Health (DPH) at Lancashire County Council rapid Health Impact Assessment report was subsequently published at:

http://council.lancashire.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=29552

The report included four recommendations with specific reference to Public Health England (PHE) as well as other Government Departments, Agencies or allied organisations (R2, R41, R43 and R45). PHE provided the DPH with an update on three of recommendations (R41, R43 and R45) in December 2016.

PHE’s ongoing work includes the provision of advice to planning bodies and regulators to ensure that local concerns and public health risks are adequately addressed; attending local public engagement events and where requested assisting local agencies and partners in the investigation of health related concerns. PHE is also scoping the feasibility of health surveillance projects. Any such studies or investigations will require careful design consideration and engagement with relevant stakeholders, as well as appropriate resourcing. PHE continues to review the evidence on the potential public health impacts of emissions associated with shale gas extraction and aims to develop health impact assessment tools and guidance for local public health teams.