Byers cleared of lying over Railtrack

Former Transport Secretary Stephen Byers has been cleared of lying to MPs prior to the collapse of Railtrack.

However, Mr Byers has been rebuked for failing to give accurate answers to the Commons Transport Committee and has been ordered to "apologise unreservedly" to the House of Commons.

The Commons Standards and Privileges Committee investigation centred on Mr Byers testimony to the Commons transport committee, following the collapse of Railtrack in 2001, which saw shareholders lose millions of pounds.

The North Tyneside MP was asked by Conservative MP Chris Grayling if he had considered the possibility of a change in status of Railtrack before a meeting in July 2001, when he met with the company's chairman. Mr Byers said that he had not.

However, lawyers acting for Railtrack shareholders during their unsuccessful High Court action last year produced an email dating from June 2001, which showed that Mr Byers was seeking "alternative owners and management" for the company. Mr Byers then admitted to misleading MPs, but said that he could not remember the motivations behind it.

Commenting today, Mr Byers said that he was pleased with the Committee's decision. He said: "This was an extremely serious allegation, which the committee has rejected in the clearest possible terms."

Mr Grayling, now the Shadow Transport Secretary, told Sky News: "I think he has little option but to simply say 'I'm sorry' and I hope he doesn't seek to do any more than that."

(KMcA)