Confidential plans for Tyneside left on train

Jun 23 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

Lord Falconer’s misplaced documents were offered to The Journal by a passenger who said he had noticed the former minister’s papers after he left the train.

The man, who asked not to be named, said: “I thought I recognised him when he left and then when I got off in Scotland I noticed the papers.

“They are quite big, it’d be pretty hard not to notice them.”

Last night Newcastle Labour group leader Nick Forbes said Lord Falconer’s slip-up revealed deeper problems with the development company.

He said: “It is good to see that a peer of the realm has finally come out in favour of freedom if information, even if as this shows it is not through the normal channels.

“I think quite aside from what seems to be an embarrassing mistake, there are other issues here. Why should the development company be deciding these things in secret? “They should be more open with these decisions.”

Jim McIntyre, chief executive at the city development company 1NG , has issued a statement on behalf of Lord Falconer and the board members.

He said: “1NG is aware that papers relating to its business were mislaid last week.

“The content of the papers does not compromise any staff or individuals within the company.

“The papers highlight progress the company has been making on a number of projects and procedural matters and as such were primarily progress updates rather than definitive decisions on projects.

“As the work evolves it is anticipated that much of the content will be shared with a wider audience anyway.”