Nowhere in your article about transport minister David Jamieson's answer to Anne McIntosh's question in the House of Commons (Gobbledegook reply slammed, November 28) did you mention what the question was.

For clarity, I have looked in Hansard and I think that the question does put a different complexion on the rather complicated answer given by the minister concerning the Inter City East Coast franchise and GNER.

He was asked 'for what reason he rejected the advice of the SRA to grant a 20-year franchise to GNER.'

The minister gave a technical reply concerning the grounds on which the Secretary of State could direct the SRA on such decisions, hence the gobbledegook wording.

He then made it clear, in plain English, that 'The Secretary of State did not give a direction in relation to the Inter City East Coast franchise.'

Far from being a misleading reply which failed to answer the question, which your article and subsequent commentary implied, the minister's answer very clearly indicated that the original question was based on a false premise that ministers rejected SRA advice.

The reason his answer did not say 'Ministers rejected SRA advice to grant a 20-year franchise to GNER....' was because they did not reject SRA advice. It was the SRA's decision to extend the current franchise for two years.

Ms McIntosh may not like the reply she received, but it did answer the question she actually asked.

If Ms McIntosh is not able to understand simple legal explanations, perhaps she's in the wrong job.

Dafydd Williams,

Newton upon Derwent, York.

Updated: 10:50 Monday, December 10, 2001