Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether he has the power to overrule objections to hydraulic fracturing consents from (a) the Health and Safety Executive, (b) the Environment Agency, (c) Natural England and (d) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

DECC checks before giving drilling consent that – amongst other things – the HSE and the EA have no objections and requires evidence that the operator has secured the necessary development consent order from the relevant mineral planning authority. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) checks the well design and construction and the safety of drilling operations. The Environment Agency (EA) issues environmental permits and water abstraction licences if relevant. My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State cannot overrule objections from any of these bodies.

Natural England is a statutory consultee for mineral planning applications. Defra does not have a direct regulatory role in shale gas operations.