MPs 'expected to approve fracking under national parks'

MPs are expected to approve fracking under national parks in a Commons vote later today.

Draft regulations state drilling for shale gas can only take place 1,200 metres below national parks, areas of outstanding beauty and world heritage sites.

What is fracking?

But the government was accused of doing a U-turn on an outright ban on any drilling in such areas weeks after May's general election.

A Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesman said the new regulations would "get this vital industry moving while protecting our environment and people".

He added: "With the right standards in place fracking can take place safely."

Labour's Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has criticised the government's plans, saying that the government was trying to "sneak" proposals through without parliamentary debate.

Shadow energy secretary Lisa Nandy accused ministers of using a "parliamentary back door" to try to approve the "weak regulations" without debate.

In a statement, she said: "Fracking should not go ahead in Britain until stronger safeguards are in place to protect drinking water sources and sensitive parts of our countryside like national parks."