Greenpeace has claimed the UK government attempted to influence a decision by the Lancashire County Council on shale gas by delaying the publication of a report.

Last year, Lancashire councillors voted against two applications by Cuadrilla Resources to drill for shale gas in the area.

Two days after the vote had taken place the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) published its draft Shale Gas Rural Economy Impacts paper.

It outlined a number of environmental risks posed by fracking.

Greenpeace said it obtained emails under a freedom of information request which it claims indicate then Minister of State for Energy attempted to time the release aiming to minimise its damage

on the fracking industry.

One email, reportedly reads: “Leadsom suggests we do nothing before Cuadrilla’s planning decision if we have time….if the Minister should be aware or if we expect any media pick up from the

FOI, particularly given her sensitivity to shale comms at the moment.”

Leadsom’s office is said to have replied and said DEFRA should agree to shift publication to July 1st and still conform to a 35-day window left by an Information Commissioner ruling which

ordered the publication go on June 18th.

According to reports, DEFRA also agreed to publish the reports late in the day in a move aimed at lower media exposure.