LEYTON and Wanstead MP Harry Cohen has slammed Government plans for part privatisation of the London Underground.

Comparing the proposals to the WorldCom and Enron financial scandals, Mr Cohen told Parliament: "The accounting used which assumes a saving from this Tube public private partnership (PPP) must be deemed unreliable.

"I doubt whether the total amount of private money promised for the system would come through.The timing of it would lead to important infrastructure improvements being delayed."

He warned: "This sort of situation could mean a high cost to the public pocket."

July 8, 2002 18:00