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Michael Fallon defends fracking comments Michael Fallon defends fracking comments
(35 minutes later)
Energy minister Michael Fallon has defended comments about fracking, in which he suggested drilling could disrupt the home lives of media commentators in southern England. Energy minister Michael Fallon has defended comments about fracking, in which he appeared to suggest the process would affect those living near gas drilling sites.
Mr Fallon told a private meeting it would test "how thick their rectory walls are" and "whether they like the flaring at the end of the drive".Mr Fallon told a private meeting it would test "how thick their rectory walls are" and "whether they like the flaring at the end of the drive".
The remarks came amid protests against potential fracking in West Sussex. In the past, he has described shale gas as an "exciting new energy resource".
The Tory minister told the BBC his words were "light hearted". The Tory minister told the BBC his latest comments were "light hearted".
Reported in the Mail on Sunday, they are thought to be aimed at a journalist who has backed fracking. His remarks, reported in the Mail on Sunday, were thought to be aimed at Spectator magazine journalist and former Daily Telegraph editor Charles Moore, who lives in a rectory in East Sussex and has written about his support for fracking.
Mr Fallon said fracking would only be allowed if "absolutely safe". The comments came amid protests against potential fracking in West Sussex.
Fracking uses high-pressure liquid pumped deep underground to fracture shale rock and release gas.
Environmentalists fear it can cause small earth tremors, water contamination and environmental damage.
'Get on with shale'
According to the Mail on Sunday, Mr Fallon, the MP for Sevenoaks in Kent, made the remarks after explaining that exploratory studies for fracking could spread across southern England following tests off the Lancashire coast.According to the Mail on Sunday, Mr Fallon, the MP for Sevenoaks in Kent, made the remarks after explaining that exploratory studies for fracking could spread across southern England following tests off the Lancashire coast.
He is quoted as saying: "The second area being studied is the Weald. It's from Dorset all the way along through Hampshire, Sussex, East Sussex, West Sussex, all the way perhaps a bit into Surrey and even into my county of Kent." He is quoted as saying at the private meeting: "The second area being studied is the Weald. It's from Dorset all the way along through Hampshire, Sussex, East Sussex, West Sussex, all the way perhaps a bit into Surrey and even into my county of Kent.
The newly promoted minister said "of course it's underneath the commentariat. "The beauty of that - please don't write this down - is that of course it's underneath the commentariat. All these people writing leaders saying, `Why don't they get on with shale?' We are going to see how thick their rectory walls are, whether they like the flaring at the end of the drive."
"All these people writing leaders saying 'why don't they get on with shale?' We are going to see how thick their rectory walls are, whether they like the flaring at the end of the drive." Mr Fallon said fracking would only be allowed if "absolutely safe".
Environmental fears
BBC political correspondent Robin Brant said it is thought the reference to the commentariat was aimed primarily at the Spectator magazine journalist and former Daily Telegraph editor Charles Moore, who lives in a rectory in East Sussex and has written about his support for fracking.
In an exchange with the BBC Mr Fallon confirmed he had made the remarks but said the newspaper report had "completely misconstrued a light hearted remark".In an exchange with the BBC Mr Fallon confirmed he had made the remarks but said the newspaper report had "completely misconstrued a light hearted remark".
He said "no fracking will be allowed in the Weald unless it is absolutely safe and the environment is fully protected".He said "no fracking will be allowed in the Weald unless it is absolutely safe and the environment is fully protected".
In the past, Mr Fallon has described shale gas as an "exciting new energy resource". Protests
Fracking uses high-pressure liquid pumped deep underground to fracture shale rock and release gas. On Friday, energy company Cuadrilla began drilling for oil at a site in Balcombe, after being held up by more than a week of protests.
But it has prompted concerns form environmentalists over fears it can cause small earth tremors, the huge amounts of water required for the process and concerns that potentially carcinogenic chemicals used may escape as a results of bad practice. Cuadrilla owns licences to test drill for shale gas in the UK but has said it has no plans to use fracking.
On Friday, energy company Cuadrilla begun drilling for oil at a site in Balcombe, after being held up by more than a week of protests.
Cuadrilla owns licences to test drill for shale gas in the UK but has said it had no plans to use fracking
But demonstrators from across the UK have gathered in the area saying they fear test drilling could lead to the search for shale gas and fracking at the site.But demonstrators from across the UK have gathered in the area saying they fear test drilling could lead to the search for shale gas and fracking at the site.
A government report published in June 2012 concluded fracking was safe if adequately monitored. Mr Fallon's comments came following a row prompted by comments over fracking by former government energy policy adviser Lord Howell.
Mr Fallon's comments came after a row prompted by comments over fracking by former government energy policy adviser Lord Howell.
He was criticised for saying fracking should take place in "desolate" areas of the North East but later revealed he actually meant to refer to the North West.He was criticised for saying fracking should take place in "desolate" areas of the North East but later revealed he actually meant to refer to the North West.
Lord Howell later apologised for any offence caused and said he was suggesting fracking should take place far away from residences in "unloved places that are not environmentally sensitive". Lord Howell later apologised and said he was suggesting fracking should take place far away from residences in "unloved places that are not environmentally sensitive".