A SENIOR senior peer has apologised for any offence caused by his comments about fracking, and insisted he did not believe the North-East was "desolate".

Tory Lord Howell was accused of being "foolish and ill-informed" to say fracking should be carried out in the North-East of England where there are large, desolate areas.

Lord Howell, of Guildford, had drawn gasps of astonishment from the House of Lords for suggesting the controversial form of gas production could take place in the North-East without any impact on the surrounding environment.

He said during Lords Questions: "Would you accept that it could be a mistake to think of and discuss fracking in terms of the whole of the United Kingdom in one go?

"I mean there obviously are, in beautiful natural areas, worries about not just the drilling and the fracking, which I think are exaggerated, but about the trucks, and the delivery, and the roads, and the disturbance, and those about justified worries."

To stunned exclamations, the southern-based peer added: "But there are large and uninhabited and desolate areas. Certainly in part of the North-East where there's plenty of room for fracking, well away from anybody's residence where we could conduct without any kind of threat to the rural environment."

He said distinctions between area should be made, rather than lump them all together.

Mr Wharton, the Tory MP for Stockton South, strongly disagreed with the view of the North-East proffered by Lord Howell, who is George Osborne's father-in-law.

Mr Wharton said: "I think his comments about the North-East are foolish and ill-informed."

But the MP was not opposed to fracking itself.

"It will undoubtedly create large numbers of highly-skilled well-paid jobs and I hope the North-East will play a significant part in that."

Jude Leitch, of Northumberland Tourism, said: "It's not hard to refute what he said. He's probably never been up here in his life."

The Tourism Development Manager said the North-East was known for its spectacular scenery, and although it had a history of heavy industry, those areas were concentrated and relatively small.

Places like Hadrian's Wall and Bamburgh Castle are recognised throughout the world.

"We have tremendous diversity up here so you can go from moorlands to mountains in a few miles, then in half-an-hour be down on the coast and with all those amazing man-made features that are there because Northumberland was fought over for centuries."

Labour's Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton was among those to speak out against Lord Howell's comments.

She said: "I declare an interest as a resident of Lancashire, who is aware of the enormous beauty of the Trough of Bowland. Would you, minister, join with me in condemning the alleged remarks of protesters in the south of England, that all the fracking could be done in the north of England?

"And will you join with me in insisting that the beauty of Lancashire is as important, not more but as important, as the beauties surrounding, for example, Guildford?"

Lord Howell was a minister in the Foreign Office responsible for international energy policy between 2010 and 2012. He also served as energy secretary between 1979 and 1981 under Margaret Thatcher.

Speaking outside the House of Lords, Labour peer Lord Beecham, who is also a Newcastle city councillor, said: "Neville Chamberlain spoke of pre-war Czechoslovakia as a far away country of which we know nothing.

"Lord Howell clearly has a similar view on the North-East and his comments once again highlight the Tories problem with the north.

"Perhaps he's forecasting the future the North-East faces as a result of Government policy - a largely uninhabited and desolate place where there'll be few people to object."

Phil Wilson Labour MP for Sedgefield said: "Lord Howell's comment on the North-East is yet another in a long line from David Cameron's Tories which show how out of touch they are with the rest of Britain.

"This shows ignorance and a total lack of pride in this country and he should apologise."

With the row showing no signs of abating, Lord Howell apologised tonight saying: "I apologise for any offence caused.

"I certainly did not intend to suggest that the North-East is desolate and I do not believe it to be the case. There are parts of the country that are less densely inhabited than others.
"That includes parts of the North-East, but also other areas in the south of England as well. The shale gas industry should be encouraged to develop in a sustainable way where it is appropriate to do so and in way that ensures communities benefit, which could be in many different parts of country."