The Energy Minister Michael Fallon has welcomed the report by Public Health England on the impact of fracking on people’s health and the environment. The report, issued yesterday, said fracking was likely to be low risk but it called for good onsite management and appropriate regulation.

Mr Fallon said: “I welcome this report which shows that the potential risk to public health from shale gas production in the UK is low. The UK has the most robust regulatory regime in the world for shale gas and companies will only be granted permission to frack for shale if their operations are safe. Public safety and health is paramount and Government will continue to work with industry to ensure the stringent safety guidelines are upheld as they explore the great potential for shale.”