Exploration
30th January 2012
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with (a) the First Minister of the Welsh Government and (b) the Welsh Local Government Association on the scale of planning applications for fracking in Wales; and if she will make a statement.
Mr David Jones: The responsibility for the planning applications for hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’ falls to the local authorities in Wales and therefore is the responsibility of the Welsh Government.
The Welsh Government last week announced plans to hold a public inquiry in May into a test drilling application for shale gas in the Vale of Glamorgan; however, we are not aware of any planning applications currently before any Welsh authority for fracking operations.
