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Tory ministers have met fracking giants almost once a month, damning new research reveals today.

Labour accused the government of working "hand-in-hand with the fracking industry" after exposing the huge list of official contacts.

Ministers from six departments have held 31 meetings with fracking industry representatives in the last three years, according to analysis of government records by Labour.

That included 13 meetings with Indeos, five with UK Onshore Oil and Gas and five with Cuadrilla, which temporarily halted fracking in Lancashire last month amid a string of earth tremors.

Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long Bailey said: “It’s a scandal that the Government is determined to force through fracking at any cost and against the wishes of local communities.

(Image: PA)

“The Tories are working hand-in-hand with the fracking industry while ignoring all the evidence and failing to give a fair hearing to local people affected.

“Fracking has got to stop and the next Labour government will ban it.”

The meetings were disclosed in numerous transparency files published by the government and assembled by Labour.

Labour claimed ministers had "not had a single meeting" with anti-fracking campaigners from the affected areas in the UK.

But the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy insisted there had been at least one meeting.

A spokesman said: “Ministers and officials regularly meet with representatives from across the energy industry.

(Image: PA)

“Energy and Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry also met with local campaigners in April to discuss their concerns.”

After fracking was halted last month a Cuadrilla spokesperson said: "Micro seismic events such as these result in tiny movements that are way below anything that would be felt at the surface, much less cause any harm or damage.

"Without the sophisticated monitoring in place at Cuadrilla, they would not be detected.

"It is reassuring that the monitoring and traffic light system is working as it should."