A flurry of Menzies
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2013-07-05a.162967.h&s=speaker%3A24804#g162967.q0
July 5th 2013
Mark Menzies (Fylde, Conservative)
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that any community benefit revenue that is derived from shale gas is apportioned to people living in the immediate vicinity of well sites.
Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks, Conservative)
I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The industry trade body UK Onshore Operators Group (UKOOG) published a Community Engagement Charter on 27 June setting out their commitments on engagement with communities that host shale gas developments.
This also sets their proposals on how communities will benefit directly from developments in their areas and commits to provide a share of proceeds at production stage of 1% of revenues. Further, as part of this commitment they have stated that approximately two thirds of this benefit will be allocated to the local community; the rest will be allocated at county level.
UKOOG will provide further detail on fund allocation later in the year and will be working with interested parties and councils over the course of the next few months to finalise plans.
I would like to hope that Mr Menzies already knew everything in Mr Fallon’s answer there. We did.
Surely the question that need to be asked is “how are you defining “community”?”
Also on July 5th 2013
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2013-07-05a.162967.h&s=speaker%3A24804#g162967.q0
Mark Menzies (Fylde, Conservative)
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy to provide a gold standard of regulation on shale gas operations before any potential move to the extraction phase.
Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks, Conservative)
I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
The UK has a strong regulatory system which provides a comprehensive and fit for purpose regime for shale gas exploration, but we want continuously to improve it. The Office of Unconventional Gas and Oil works closely with the regulators and industry to ensure that the regulatory system applied to potential shale gas production is as streamlined as possible, while remaining robust enough to safeguard public safety and protect the environment.
We are not sure why Mr Menzies doesn’t understand that we need what he loves calling a “gold standard of regulation” before the extraction phase – we need it whilst they are exploring as well.
As to Mr Fallon’s glib response – To describe the current system as “strong”, “fit for purpose” and comprehensive” is laughable. Did he manage to keep a straight face whilst he said that?
Streamlining an already inadequate regulatory system is definitely NOT what is needed.
We do hope we won’t be reading about Mr Menzies congratulating himself for asking these questions in next week’s Lytham St Annes Express.
