Myself and the government will deliver on the priorities of the people in this country

Transport Secretary Stephen Byers

Mr Byers insisted he would not be distracted by the row and would instead concentrate on improving transport and housing and helping to regenerate the economy.

"The important issue, as far as this side of the House is concerned and as far as I am concerned, is that you may reflect the priorities of Westminster village," he told Tory MPs.

"But myself and the government will deliver on the priorities of the people in this country".

'People's priorities'

His Conservative shadow, Theresa May, claimed the government had misled the public by promising that �64.9bn was to be invested in the railways over the next 10 years.

The real figure was only �20bn, she said.

One third of the government's figure was "accounted for by inflation, a quarter of it is double counting and a third of the remainder is on-going renewals and maintenance work", she said.

But Mr Byers insisted there would be �64.9bn of new money, saying: "Those are the figures and that is the amount that will be delivered."

Noting it would be their last question time before the Easter break, Mrs May taunted: "May I just say to the secretary of state - goodbye".

Mr Byers replied: "Whether it is you saying bye bye to me or me saying bye bye to you - time will tell."

Third casualty

The embattled secretary of state enjoyed strong support from Labour backbenchers, many of whom regard Mr Byers' difficulties as a consequence of his decision to put Railtrack into administration.

Mr Byers was expected to face fresh calls to resign as the row over spin claimed its third civil service casualty.

Ian Jones, Mr Byers' head of news, has been suspended on full pay as part of the inquiry into the leaks of e-mails to newspapers.

The Conservatives are pressing Prime Minister Tony Blair to explain whether he intervened to keep special adviser Jo Moore in her job after her infamous e-mail suggesting that 11 September was a good day to bury bad news.