Chamber and committees

A suite of licences, permits and permissions are required for operators to carry out hydraulic fracturing techniques in relation to shale or coalbed methane gas extraction activities.

Permissions for this type of activity are sought by application processes through the local planning authority (LPA). As with all local planning decisions Scottish ministers are not directly involved in the process though can become involved as decision makers in subsequent appeal processes and for this reason a professional distance is maintained.

Ministers are however, indirectly involved through SEPA’s status as a statutory consultee in the local planning permissions process. SEPA are in regular discussion with LPA’s involved in all manner of planning applications including applications which involve the use of hydraulic fracturing techniques.

I refer the member to my answer to question S4W-04084 on 6 December 2011, for specific details. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The regulatory process for activities which involve the use of hydraulic fracture techniques in Scotland require an application to be made to SEPA under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (CAR).

To date there have been no applications made to SEPA for hydraulic fracturing for the purposes of either shale gas or shale oil extraction in Scotland.

SEPA is also not aware of any pre-application discussions under CAR regarding hydraulic fracturing for the purposes of shale gas or shale oil extraction.

However, there have been pre-application discussions and CAR applications for hydraulic fracturing for the purposes of coal bed methane extraction in the location of Canonbie, Dumfrieshire.

As part of the local planning process hydraulic fracturing activities should be screened to determine if Environmental Impact Assessment, as per the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations, is required. If such assessment were considered to be required, the planning authority would factor the environmental information provided into its decision on the subsequent planning application.

SEPA carries out a risk assessment as part of its specific obligations to evaluate risks to the water environment when assessing applications for licences under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (CAR). CAR licences are only issued when SEPA are satisfied that any risks to the water environment are negated or within manageable tolerances.

The regulatory processes for activities which involve the use of hydraulic fracture techniques in Scotland require an application to be made to SEPA under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (CAR).

SEPA carries out a risk assessment as part of its specific obligations to evaluate risks to the water environment when assessing applications for licences under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011. CAR licences are only issued when SEPA are satisfied that any risks to the water environment are negated or within manageable tolerances.

To date there have been no applications made to SEPA for hydraulic fracturing for the purposes of either shale gas or shale oil extraction in Scotland.

SEPA is also not aware of any pre-application discussions under CAR regarding hydraulic fracturing for the purposes of shale gas or shale oil extraction.

As part of the local planning process hydraulic fracturing activities should be screened to determine if Environmental Impact Assessment, as per the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations, is required. If such assessment is considered to be required, the planning authority would factor the environmental information provided into its decision on the subsequent planning application.

I have received the initial findings and I am seeking further information on a number of issues from NHS Lothian. The final report will be placed in SPICe as soon as possible.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03959 on 21 November 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03959 on 21 November 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 places a duty on local authorities to introduce a council tax discount scheme offering a minimum in-year reduction of £50 where householders undertake efficiency improvements to their home. The act means that any assessment of the costs and benefits of those discounts is the responsibility of individual councils and the Scottish Government has no formal role in developing or delivering discount schemes.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03959 on 21 November 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The operation and administration of energy efficiency discount schemes is a matter for local authorities under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 and the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended).

The Scottish Government, as required by the act, will report on council tax rebate schemes in Scotland, after 1 April 2012.