THE company that wants to establish a large-scale fracking industry in Scotland has warned that it could shelve its plans and instead invest in England, after the SNP leadership narrowly avoided an embarrassing rebellion over the issue from grassroots members.

Delegates forced a vote after a conference motion, which was watered down by party HQ ahead of the conference, was seen as not going far enough by members who support a ban on unconventional oil and gas extraction in Scotland rather than the current moratorium.

Following the debate, Tom Pickering, a director of Ineos who is spearheading the firm's fracking plans north of the border, expressed frustration at a timetable published by the Scottish Government for research and a consultation which means a final decision over the issue will not be taken until 2017.

He said that an attempt to engage with party members by holding a stall at the conference had gone well, but that Ineos, which owns the sprawling Grangemouth industrial complex, could instead focus its shale gas operations in England, where the UK Government is actively encouraging fracking.

Mr Pickering added: "If you're making an investment in something, clarity is absolutely important, from start until finish. Where you don't have that clarity, where are you going to take that investment? You'll take it where it has got clarity."

Asked about whether he feared the Scottish Government would be swayed by public opinion, rather than scientific studies it has commissioned, he added: "They've made the statement that they're working with fact and science."

On the Scottish Government's timetable for further research before a decision is made, he said he believed there "could be more pace" and expressed frustration at the time taken to set out the process.

Mr Pickering added: "They've said you can do seismic [testing] and core drilling, but actually that's not the path to testing commercial flow and production. Down south, we can see a clear line of science, regulatory support, planning support to advance it along the scientific and appraisal timeline.

"Ineos has got to think carefully about where it chooses to pursue early stage investment. [Scotland] could lose that first moment where you can choose to develop the knowhow and experience and equipment that can be taken out beyond Scotland. That once in a generation opportunity is lost."

In the conference hall, a series of delegates lined up to warn against the environmental and health impacts of fracking. Fergus Ewing, the energy minister, was not present at the event.

Eventually, a move to abandon the motion and force a stronger resolution in its place was defeated by 554 votes to 427.

Meanwhile, the leadership position was defeated over the issue of land reform, with delegates unhappy at the Scottish Government's proposals which will see tax exemptions for sporting estates scrapped and the creation of a new Scottish Land Commission. Several favoured more radical policies on transparency and buy-outs.

Almost 600 delegates voted to shelve the supportive motion and force a re-think, compared to 440 who opposed the move.