Asked by: Lee Rowley (Conservative - North East Derbyshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the New Computerised Transit System incorporates an interface with Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
There is currently no interface between the New Computerised Transit System and the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system.
Asked by: Lee Rowley (Conservative - North East Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the scope is of the Oil and Gas Authority’s scientific analysis of the data gathered during the shale gas operations and Preston New Road; what data will be included in the Authority's analysis; and whether the conclusions of that analysis will be accompanied by recommendations for future regulation of the UK shale gas industry.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
As part of their normal responsibilities as one of the independent regulators of the shale gas industry, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) is carrying out a scientific analysis of the data gathered during the operations at Preston New Road. It is not a review of the traffic light system.
The OGA will work with recognised and independent geologists and scientists with expertise in hydraulic fracturing operations to assess the data and will provide updates on the progress of this analysis on their website as appropriate.
Asked by: Lee Rowley (Conservative - North East Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many times the Oil and Gas Authority has carried out scientific analysis of data from UK oil and gas operations in each of the last five years; and from which sites that data was taken.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
While not primarily a scientific body, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) frequently undertakes some level of scientific analysis, drawing on external data as well as internal data, and external and internal expertise. Recent examples include:
Asked by: Lee Rowley (Conservative - North East Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timeframe is for the Oil and Gas Authority’s analysis of data from shale gas operations at Preston New Road; and if he will publish the conclusions of that analysis when it is concluded.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
As part of their normal responsibilities as one of the independent regulators of the shale gas industry, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) is carrying out a scientific analysis of the data gathered during the operations at Preston New Road. It is not a review of the traffic light system.
The OGA will work with recognised and independent geologists and scientists with expertise in hydraulic fracturing operations to assess the data and will provide updates on the progress of this analysis on their website as appropriate.
Asked by: Lee Rowley (Conservative - North East Derbyshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinian Occupied Territories.
Answered by Mark Field
We firmly believe a just and lasting resolution that ends the occupation and delivers peace for both Israelis and Palestinians is long overdue. We believe that negotiations will only succeed when they are conducted between Israelis and Palestinians, supported by the international community. We have encouraged the US Administration to bring forward detailed proposals for a viable peace agreement that addresses the legitimate concerns of both parties. We continue to believe the best way to achieve this is through substantive peace talks between the parties leading to a two-state solution with Jerusalem as a shared capital.
Asked by: Lee Rowley (Conservative - North East Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of making the HS2 Rural Support Zone scheme eligible for property owners through trusts that do not occupy those properties.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Extending the RSZ schemes to non-owner occupiers in this way would be inconsistent with the eligibility requirements for statutory blight upon which the eligibility requirements of HS2 non-statutory property compensation schemes are broadly based.
HS2 property compensation schemes will be, however, kept under review for the entirety of the programme to ensure that people who are directly affected by HS2 are properly supported.
Under established arrangements people with special circumstances who are not eligible to apply under HS2 non-statutory property compensation schemes can request that their circumstances are considered atypically.
Asked by: Lee Rowley (Conservative - North East Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the evidential basis is for the decision to suspension hydraulic fracturing operations for 18 hours as a result of induced seismic activity of >0.5 magnitude.
Answered by Claire Perry
Following minor seismic events at Preese Hall in 2011, an expert scientific review recommended that a traffic light system (TLS) be put in place, under which hydraulic fracturing operations should be paused if a seismic event was detected at or above a precautionary threshold of magnitude 0.5. The intention of the TLS was to minimise disturbance to local communities and to avoid harm to people or the environment. The TLS was developed in consultation with industry.
The Oil and Gas Authority monitors seismicity as part of their regulatory duties at shale gas sites and requires certain controls and requirements to be adhered to as set out in a Hydraulic Fracture Plan (HFP) which must be agreed between the operator and the regulators before operations can start. The TLS did not specify a pause period after a 0.5 magnitude event, however as a part of the HFP for their first well at Preston New Road, Cuadrilla proposed that they would pause for a minimum of 18 hours should a seismic event greater, or equal to, the 0.5 magnitude threshold be detected. The regulators considered that this was reasonable to allow them sufficient time to analyse seismic data and minimise the risk of trailing events.
Asked by: Lee Rowley (Conservative - North East Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the traffic light monitoring system for regulating fracking-induced seismicity, for what reason trailing events of over 0.5 magnitude are not categorised as red events.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Traffic Light System applies to seismic events recorded during injection or pumping operations, therefore red events are categorised as those of magnitude 0.5 or greater occurring during these operations. However, the Hydraulic Fracture Plan (HFP) for Cuadrilla’s operations at Preston New Road stipulated that any trailing event recorded at magnitude 0.5, or above, also required an 18 hour pause to allow for monitoring and assessment. The HFP must be agreed between the operator and regulators ahead of operations commencing.
Asked by: Lee Rowley (Conservative - North East Derbyshire)
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.
Answered by Claire Perry
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.
Asked by: Lee Rowley (Conservative - North East Derbyshire)
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 Department's will be liable for the long-term (i) decommissioning of hydraulic fracturing wells and (ii) associated effects of hydraulic fracturing operations in the event that the licensed operator goes out of business.
Answered by Claire Perry
To date, only two wells in the UK have been hydraulically fractured, at Cuadrilla’s sites at Preese Hall and Preston New Road in Lancashire. The well at Preese Hall has been fully plugged and abandoned, while Preston New Road is still operational.
Hydraulic Fracturing Consent (HFC) will not be issued unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that it is appropriate to do so. My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State is entitled to refuse HFC and/or, in certain circumstances, can impose conditions to provide additional protections. As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement [HCWS428] of 25 January 2018, as a matter of policy the Government will look at the financial status of all companies wishing to carry out hydraulic fracturing operations, including their ability to fund decommissioning costs. Suitable conditions may be put in place to provide assurance that these costs can be covered.