IT is not my intention to enter into a debate with Robert McCaw on the subject of fracking (Letters, July 29).

However I would seek an explanation for his claim that "wind energy is now producing 50 per cent of our electricity". At 11.35 on the morning his letter was published, 5.5 per cent of UK electricity consumption was coming from wind and even if we allow for Scottish levels I do not see where his statistic comes from.

I would also challenge his assertion that "there is no harmful by-product to be disposed of or stored". He is failing to take account of the fact that turbine magnets contain about one-third of a tonne of rare earth metals the mining of which generates horrific amounts of radioactive waste and other pollutants. The local inhabitants around the Chinese mines from which 95 per cent of the world's neodymium and dysprosium is extracted are paying the most terrible price in terms of their health.

And now there is serious pressure on Greenland to allow rare earth metal mining when Chinese reserves of dysprosium run out in five years time.

John Milne,

9 Ardgowan Drive, Uddingston.