He continued, “If they can’t then that’s it, the end of the debate, there will be no UK shale industry. If they can, then the UK as a whole could reap the benefits. Shale gas could make a very real difference to the UK. Industry experts claim that the shale industry will create over 64,000 new jobs across the supply chain and together with additional tax revenues generated will contribute significantly to UK Plc.”

“There is widespread agreement that the UK will rely on gas for part of its energy needs for decades to come. With gas from the North Sea dwindling, the UK is becoming more dependent on imported gas. Having our own shale gas reserves will help secure our energy future and at the same time reduce carbon emissions globally.”

“EUA has long argued that tax revenues from the shale gas industry should be used to fund the wholesale energy efficiency retrofit of homes in the UK, bringing bills down and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Shale gas has the potential to transform the energy landscape in the UK, however, it needs to be proven that it can be done safely, effectively and in a way that reduces carbon. Mr Javid’s decision allows Cuadrilla the opportunity to demonstrate this and we will be interested to see what the results are.”