E-mails between Dan Corry, who was special adviser to Stephen Byers at the Department for Transport, Local Government and Regions (DTLR), and the Labour Party have prompted a new spin row.

The transport department published the text of these emails yesterday, with its explanation of some of the comments.

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DTLR special adviser to Labour Party, 23 May, 2002, 1129 GMT

Can you get some sort of check done on the people who are making a big fuss on the Paddington Survivors group attacking SB please (ie the ones taking over from Pam Warren). The names are in the press.

Labour Party to special adviser, DTLR, 23 May, 1201 GMT

What sort of check? If I put their names into any search engine it will only come up with their names in ref to this current story.

DTLR special adviser to Labour Party, 23 May

Basically, are they Tories.

Labour Party to special adviser, DTLR, 23 May, 1240 GMT

Checked excal. and there is no record of them as Tories. (Note: excal refers to the Labour Party database - Excalibur)

DTLR special adviser to Labour Party, 23 May, 1359 GMT

I'm told that their spokesman Martin Minns (?) works for a PR company. Can we find more on this please.

Labour Party to special adviser, DTLR, 23 May, 1658 GMT

This is all I can find - I'm not sure about Benham.

(Note: electronic press cuttings from Excalibur were passed from the Labour Party on Minns and Benham - these are not attached for reasons of personal confidentiality.

We assume the name "Benham" was mentioned in a telephone call as there is no other e-mail mention of that name)

DTLR special adviser to Labour Party, 23 May, 1737 GMT

Any more on Minns's company? (and is he still there?)

(Note: There was no response from the Labour Party)