Byers faces legal action over Tube

Stephen Byers was today facing a fresh legal challenge over his plans to sell off large sections of the Tube to the private sector on 30-year leases.

It became clear that LU will not give key financial details of the public-private partnership (PPP) to Ken Livingstone which the Mayor says are essential for him to make a reasonable judgment of the scheme.

Mr Livingstone has given Tube chiefs until today to provide both the figures - which include some of the profits - and contract details of the amount of risk being taken by the private sector. LU, however, is insisting it has given the Mayor "sufficient" details for him to make a judgment.

Yesterday LU supplied a 34-page letter in answer to the Mayor's demands. "The essential figures are still missing," said the Mayor's spokesman.

Tube chiefs admit they blanked out the figures in earlier documents given to the Mayor "because he has not signed a confidentiality agreement". LU insists that documents provided would enable the Mayor and his Transport for London staff to "work out" the calculations.