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 an assessment of the potential benefits to the North West economy of the shale gas extraction industry.

The economic impact of shale both locally and nationally will depend on how far shale development is technically and commercially viable, and on the level of production reached. A thriving shale industry could involve a wide range of local jobs, in construction supply, transport, facilities support and consultancy. Shale gas development would in turn support jobs in sectors such as the chemical industry, much of which relies on natural gas as a feedstock.

The Government believe it is important that communities which host shale development see a share of the economic benefits. To ensure that this happens, a community benefits package has been brought forward by industry. The Government has also announced that it will create a Shale Wealth Fund to ensure that communities which host shale sites can also share in the wider benefits of shale development.