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176767

registered interest
date	29/01/2015
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Ground Water
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the total area of (a) England and (b) Wales covered by groundwater protection zones (i) 1, (ii) 2 and (iii) 3.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Tom Greatrex
uin	222700
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2015 answer text <p>Approximately 15% of the area of England is covered by defined Source Protection Zones (SPZs) 1, 2 and 3.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- SPZ1s cover approximately 2,000 km<sup>2 </sup>(1.5%) of the area of England.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- SPZ2s, which include the area covered by SPZ1s, cover approximately 7,700 km<sup>2</sup> (6.5%) of the area of England.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- SPZ3s, which include the area covered by SPZ1s and SPZ2s, cover approximately 20,000 km<sup>2</sup> (15%) of the area of England.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In addition, a large number of small private water supplies will be considered to be within an SPZ1 and SPZ2, and may amount to an additional 5%.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Welsh Government is responsible for SPZs in Wales.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 03/02/2015 10:25:29 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	4047 label Biography information for Tom Greatrex

102041

registered interest
date	31/10/2014
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Environment Agency
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the average time taken between a receipt of application and the granting of (a) groundwater permits, (b) mining waste disposal permits, (c) water discharge activity permits, (d) water abstraction licences, (e) radioactive substances activity permits and (f) industrial emissions permits by the Environment Agency in the last four years.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Tom Greatrex
uin	212836
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>The Environment Agency is required to determine 95% of development consent applications in 91 days or less subject to agreed exceptions. The Environment Agency continues to meet this target.</p><p>The table below sets out the average time taken between receipt of application and the determination for applications under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR, covering activities (a),(b),(c) and (f)), and for water abstraction (d).</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><p>2011</p><p>(Avg time in days)</p></td><td><p>2012</p><p>(Avg time in days)</p></td><td><p>2013</p><p>(Avg time in days)</p></td><td><p>2014</p><p>(Avg time in days)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>EPR average (a,b,c,f )</p></td><td><p>79.3</p></td><td><p>81.1</p></td><td><p>61.8</p></td><td><p>53.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Water abstraction (d)</p></td><td><p>127.5</p></td><td><p>90.9</p></td><td><p>75.8</p></td><td><p>49.4</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The following table provides the average times taken for each EPR activity. Information is not held centrally for ground water applications or radioactive substances.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><br><p> </p></td><td> </td><td><p>2011</p><p>(Avg time in days)</p></td><td><p>2012</p><p>(Avg time in days)</p></td><td><p>2013</p><p>(Avg time in days)</p></td><td><p>2014</p><p>(Avg time in days)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(a) &amp; (c)</p></td><td><p>Water discharge applications (including ground water discharges)</p></td><td><p>41.3</p></td><td><p>45.3</p></td><td><p>34.0</p></td><td><p>35.4</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><p>All Waste permits (inc mining waste)</p></td><td><p>125.6</p></td><td><p>92.3</p></td><td><p>79.8</p></td><td><p>64.6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(b)</p></td><td><p>Mining waste permitting</p></td><td><p>42.5</p></td><td><p>116.4</p></td><td><p>78.9</p></td><td><p>65.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(e)</p></td><td><p>Radioactive Substances</p></td><td colspan="4"><p>Based on the 14/15 half-year figures - 98.5% are determined in under 91 days</p><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(f)</p></td><td><p>Industrial Emissions Permits</p></td><td><p>82.7</p></td><td><p>102.9</p></td><td><p>74.5</p></td><td><p>62.4</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 05/11/2014 16:13:36 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	4047 label Biography information for Tom Greatrex

77615

registered interest
date	14/07/2014
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Fracking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the number of water treatment facilities in the UK capable of processing waste water from shale gas extraction; and what the (a) name, (b) location and (c) capacity is of each such site.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Tom Greatrex
uin	205582
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>There are a large number of waste treatment facilities across the UK that could potentially treat flow-back fluid, including water produced from shale exploration and hydraulic fracturing, subject to holding the relevant permits.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Currently, in England there are three facilities with permits that would allow for the treatment of such waste water:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- Castle Environmental in Stoke-on-Trent;</p><p> </p><p>- FCC Environment at Knostrop in Leeds; and</p><p> </p><p>- Bran Sands in Middlesbrough (owned by Northumbrian Water).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Core Defra does not hold information on the treatment capacity of these facilities.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 17/07/2014 12:28:13 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	4047 label Biography information for Tom Greatrex

77618

registered interest
date	14/07/2014
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Ground Water: Methane
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the concentration of methane in groundwater in mg/l in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) England, (d) Wales and (e) Northern Ireland.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Tom Greatrex
uin	205586
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The British Geological Survey (BGS) is surveying the current distribution of methane concentrations in UK groundwater, focusing on areas where aquifers are underlain by shale units that may be exploited for shale gas. The BGS website provides a summary of the methane baseline results up to April 2014 and links to regional summaries:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/groundwater/shaleGas/methaneBaseline/results.html" target="_blank">www.bgs.ac.uk/research/groundwater/shaleGas/methaneBaseline/results.html</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Depending on the geology of a particular site and the pre-existing data available, the environmental regulator (the Environment Agency in England) could also require such monitoring by the operator before a site became operational.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 17/07/2014 12:31:32 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	4047 label Biography information for Tom Greatrex

76748

registered interest
date	09/07/2014
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Environment Agency
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people were employed by the Environment Agency in a full-time capacity in each month since June 2010.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Tom Greatrex
uin	204990
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The tables show the total full time equivalent (FTE) staff employed by the Environment Agency from 30 June 2010 to 30 June 2014.</p><p> </p><p>The numbers fell by 1,070 on 1 April 2013 as a result of the creation of Natural Resources Wales, which absorbed Environment Agency Wales staff.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The numbers include those staff directly employed on Environment Agency contracts of employment, either permanent or fixed term. The numbers do not include Employment Agency Staff, Consultants or Contractors.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The figure for January 2014, differs from that included in the reply given to the hon. Member for Garston and Halewood on 24 February 2014, <em>Official Report</em> column 91-92W, where the figure included Employment Agency Staff, Consultants and Contractors staff. The figure given in this reply does not.</p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 14/07/2014 14:38:46 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson attachment 1 file name 0305 - EA staff levels - tables.doc title FTE staff employed by Environment Agency
tabling member	4047 label Biography information for Tom Greatrex

64328

registered interest
date	26/06/2014
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Energy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of his Department's consumption in kWh of (a) gas and (b) electricity in each month since June 2010; and what the cost of such consumption has been in each such month.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Tom Greatrex
uin	202704
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The cost and consumption of electricity and gas purchased by Core Defra, for the period June 2010 to May 2014, is set out in the tables. This data is taken from monthly energy invoices for this period.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Core Defra has rationalised its estate during the period covered by this report and has consolidated into fewer buildings. This is reflected in the downward trend in cost and consumption.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>All energy covered by this report was procured through Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Energy Frameworks.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p> </p><p>The data provided in this report may not be consistent with data published elsewhere because it includes consumption and costs which are normally allocated to third party occupants of Defra's Buildings.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 02/07/2014 16:41:21 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson attachment 1 file name PQ 203 UIN 202704 Document1 Compatibility Mode.doc title Defra electricity and gas consumption 2010 - 2014
tabling member	4047 label Biography information for Tom Greatrex

46512

registered interest
date	02/04/2014
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the costs of the regulation and monitoring of exploration and extraction of unconventional gas (a) at each drilling site and (b) the exploration in England and Wales.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Tom Greatrex
uin	194851
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Environment Agency raises charges for environmental permits and licences at the individual sites it regulates in England. The costs can vary depending on the nature of the site and the permits required. The shale gas industry remains at an early exploration stage and the Agency will keep its charges under review in light of developments. The annual budget the Environment Agency receives is adequate to ensure that sufficient money is allocated to costs associated with regulating the industry and for monitoring of sites during the exploration phase. As the industry develops over the next few decades appropriate funds will continue to be available to ensure the safe and sustainable exploitation of shale gas.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 07/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	4047 label Biography information for Tom Greatrex

46513

registered interest
date	02/04/2014
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy that costs associated with the regulation and monitoring of exploration and extraction of unconventional gas are levied on industry.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Tom Greatrex
uin	194844
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2014 answer text <p>The issue of environmental licences and permits at individual shale gas sites is financed through the Environment Agency's charges. The shale gas industry remains at an early exploration stage and the Agency will keep its charges under review in light of developments. In the meantime, the Environment Agency will ensure that it allocates sufficient resources within its overall budget to regulate a safe and sustainable shale gas industry.</p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 07/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	4047 label Biography information for Tom Greatrex

46514

registered interest
date	02/04/2014
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) amount and (b) proportion of the budget of the Environment Agency is allocated to staff and other departmental costs associated with the regulation of hydraulic fracturing and unconventional gas in each year between 2010-11 and 2014-15.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Tom Greatrex
uin	194845
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency does not keep separate records of its regulatory costs for hydraulic fracturing and unconventional gas so we cannot provide figures for previous years.</p><p>For 2014-15 the Environment Agency has allocated £2.6 million to its work on onshore oil and gas. This is 0.39% of the Environment Agency's total revenue budget.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 07/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	4047 label Biography information for Tom Greatrex

46515

registered interest
date	02/04/2014
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff of the Environment Agency are engaged in regulation of hydraulic fracturing and unconventional gas.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Tom Greatrex
uin	194846
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Environment Agency has set up a team of ten national officers working full time to develop the regulatory regime for oil and gas activities. This work covers conventional and unconventional oil and gas activities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>This team is supported by additional technical resource from elsewhere in the organisation. The workload fluctuates and these specialists are not solely dedicated to regulating and permitting unconventional activities. It is therefore not possible to give an exact answer, but the Environment Agency estimate that approximately a further 40 staff are currently involved in this work across England.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 07/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	4047 label Biography information for Tom Greatrex