We cannot afford to miss out on shale gas First, fracking has real potential to drive energy bills down. Labour's mismanagement of the economy means that many people are struggling with the cost of living today. Where we can act to relieve the pressure, we must. It's simple - gas and electric bills can go down when our home-grown energy supply goes up. We're not turning our back on low carbon energy, but these sources aren't enough. We need a mix. Latest estimates suggest that there's about 1,300 trillion cubic feet of shale gas lying underneath Britain at the moment - and that study only covers 11 counties. To put that in context, even if we extract just a tenth of that figure, that is still the equivalent of 51 years" gas supply. Thirdly, fracking will bring money to local neighbourhoods. Companies have agreed to pay £100,000 to every community situated near an exploratory well where they're looking to see if shale gas exists. If gas is then extracted, 1 per cent of the revenue - perhaps as much as £10 million - will go straight back to residents who live nearby. This is money that could be used for a variety of purposes - from reductions in council-tax bills to investment in neighbourhood schools. The benefits are clear. But it's also crucial to put to bed the myths. It has been suggested in recent weeks that we want fracking to be confined to certain parts of Britain. If neighbourhoods can see the benefits - and are reassured about its effects on the environment - then I don't see why fracking shouldn't receive real public support. Local people will not be cut out and ignored. We are issuing very firm guidance: firms looking to frack should make people aware of their plans well before they apply for a permit. Dialogue is important and if residents express specific concerns, then companies should take them on board. From my experience as a local MP, people tend not to oppose developments for the sake of it. But what they do object to is the idea that their neighbourhood should change without any say. We want people to get behind fracking, and a transparent planning process is an important ingredient. Equally, we must make the case that fracking is safe. International evidence shows there is no reason why the process should cause contamination of water supplies or other environmental damage, if properly regulated. If any shale gas well were to pose a risk of pollution, then we have all the powers we need to close it down. When all is said and done, though, one myth still remains - that fracking damages our countryside. I would never sanction something that might ruin our landscapes and scenery. Shale gas pads are relatively small - about the size of a cricket pitch. The South Downs National Park remains one of the most beautiful parts of Britain, yet it has been home to conventional oil and gas drilling since the Eighties. So my message to the country is clear - we cannot afford to miss out on fracking. For centuries, Britain has led the way in technological endeavour: an industrial revolution ahead of its time, many of the most vital scientific discoveries known to mankind, and a spirit of enterprise and innovation that has served us well down the decades. Fracking is part of this tradition, so let's seize it.