Minister must explain Scotrail decision - McInnes

10.55.24am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 16th Apr 2008

Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson Alison McInnes has demanded that the Scottish Transport Minister comes in front of the Parliament's Transport Committee to explain the Government's hasty decision to award the Scotrail franchise early.

Commenting, Mrs McInnes said:

"Two weeks ago, the Scottish Government gave a three-year expansion to the Scotrail contract, three years before the contract even ended. Until this month, the SNP had campaigned for the Scotrail franchise to be brought back into public ownership. This Government is making something of a speciality out of U-turns on important matters.

"I have today supported calls for the Transport Minister to appear in front of the Transport Committee to explain this precipitous decision."