The UK Onshore Oil and Gas (UKOOG) organisation (www.ukoog.org.uk) has published a report that says over 3,000 jobs could be created in Scotland as a result of shale-gas exploitation.

It is calling for Scotland to realise a “significant economic opportunity” by lifting a moratorium on “unconventional” oil and gas exploration.

CEO Ken Cronin said: “We strongly believe that there is a significant economic opportunity for Scotland, but we recognise that, because of a deeply polarised debate and an extremely unfair depiction of the onshore oil and gas industry by some people, there is still much to do to ensure that local communities in the central shale belt have proper information.

“Our conviction that a moratorium is no longer justified is underlined by the fact 30 wells have been drilled in the last 20 years, and gas has been produced in the central belt. This has happened without incident — to the environment or to public health.”