Ministers accused of trying to sneak through new fracking rules

Labour and Greenpeace condemn 'deeply disturbing' move to avoid full parliamentary debate on allowing drilling beneath protected areas

Ministers have been accused of trying to sneak through new rules allowing shale drilling under national parks without a proper parliamentary debate, in a move condemned by Labour and anti-fracking campaigners.

The rules, first proposed in July, would permit drilling underneath protected areas, despite a commitment before the election from Amber Rudd, the energy secretary, to have an outright ban on fracking in national parks, sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) and areas of outstanding natural beauty.