TORY energy spokesman Murdo Fraser has called on SNP Ministers to encourage fracking for shale gas in Scotland as an integral part of the rescue package for the Ineos petrochemical plant in Grangemouth.

Mr Fraser accused the Government of being "coy" about fracking for fear of alienating their Green partners in the Yes campaign.

Fracking has been linked to pollution, water supply contamination and even earthquakes, although the industry says these claims are unfounded.

The Tory MSP said he had spoken to Ineos and they were "entirely up for it". He explained: "The Ineos survival package is based on shipping in massive quantities of US shale gas using a fleet of tankers built in China to shuttle it across the Atlantic. On any level that seems daft if there is the potential to recover our own shale gas here in Scotland. The future of Grangemouth would be much more secure with a domestic shale gas supply. There is a tremendous opportunity for Scotland here"

Dart Energy is already seeking to extract coalbed methane at Airth.

A Government spokesman said: "The Minister for Environment and Climate Change recently announced a strengthening of planning policy in relation to unconventional gas - showing that this Government listens to local communities and to those calling for stronger environmental protection."