THE Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, Andrea Leadsom, is reported as saying recently that we need shale gas to secure our independent supplies of gas during the transition to renewables.

Is she compensating for her removal of subsidies to renewables and for surrendering the independence of nuclear (to the Chinese and French)?

Conventionally acquired gas is available but we shall have to buy it, admittedly from feared foreigners, just as we buy much of our electricity. What independence?

Does she not realise that this desire for independence comes at the expense of the planet as the UK diverts investment from renewables, jeopardises national credibility in the drive against climate change, provides a boost to the fossil fuel industry, and a polluting example to developing economies?

Even Ms Leadsom must have an inkling of what a failure to curb global warming will entail. She pays lip service to the need to cut “our carbon emissions, helping to combat climate change”.

But she knows that methane emissions constitute a much more serious risk to climate change.

What makes her and Kevin Hollinrake think that UK protecting regulations are so much better than those of anywhere else?

Despite some failures, past success in regulating conventional oil and gas is no guarantee for the future.

Overwhelming evidence of the deleterious effects of fracking on health is very recent.

David Cragg-James, Stonegrave, York