Rees-Mogg seeking to evade scrutiny of new fracking projects, email shows

Exclusive: Note setting out business secretary's views looks for ways to accelerate schemes, including streamlining HSE requirements

Ministers are actively examining ways to evade legal, environmental and public scrutiny of new oil and gas projects including fracking, the Guardian has learned, sparking a furious reaction from green groups and opposition parties.

Senior staff working on energy projects in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) have been instructed to look into ideas raised by Jacob Rees-Mogg, the business secretary, to escape potential judicial review of policies or public consultation.