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New Environment Agency head has fracking links: Appointment of former Cameron aide criticised: Chairman was boss of firm working for Cuadrilla(Guardian (UK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The government has been criticised for appointing a former business adviser to David Cameron who has had corporate links to the fracking industry as the new chairman of the Environment Agency. Sir Philip Dilley, who will work three days a week on a salary of pounds 100,000, was until April the chairman of Arup, an engineering firm that has been employed to write environmental reports on fracking for Cuadrilla - the company hoping to become the first to exploit Britain's shale gas resources. He will take on his new role in September. Arup, an employee-owned company whose website still lists Dilley as a trustee, has donated money to the all-party parliamentary group on unconventional oil and gas and is an associate member of the organisation founded to "debate and explore the potential for developing" such reserves in Britain. Dilley, who was knighted for services to engineering last month, also worked for at least two years on Cameron's business advisory group that gave "regular, high level advice to the prime minister on critical business and economic issues facing the country" according to his CV. The Environment Agency will have responsibility for granting permits for fracking across the UK as part of the coalition's promised shale "revolution". While Cameron has signalled he believes it could help bring down energy bills, green groups and local campaigners have protested over potential damage to the landscape, harm to the environment and greenhouse gas emissions. Cameron was criticised for allowing the appointment of Tory donor Andrew Sells as chairman of Natural England, the government body tasked with promoting countryside access. Sells, an investment banker and venture capitalist described his donations as "serious money". The choice of Dilley to lead the Environment Agency is very different from Lord Smith of Finsbury, the former Labour cabinet minister, who fought the effects of budget cuts when body was criticised for its handling of the floods over Christmas. Dilley's appointment was approved by the House of Commons environment select committee last week. Its only concern was to query why the government "felt necessary, during the recruitment period, to extend the time commitment required from two days a week to two-to-three days a week, and to raise the salary offered from pounds 60,632 to pounds 100,000". Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton who was arrested last year during protests over fracking, said it was "untenable" for Dilley to hold the role when his former company is so clearly linked to support for the shale gas industry. A spokesman for Defra said: "Philip Dilley was recruited in a fair and open competition. He is an excellent candidate and we are confident of his ability to fulfil the role of chair." (c) 2014 Guardian Newspapers Limited. |