I am writing as your constituent to ask you to contact John Prescott as soon as possible to ask him to immediately release the concession agreement for the Birmingham Northern Relief Road. I am very concerned that the cancellation charges within the agreement may have influenced his decision on the motorway.

 As you will know the Courts have ruled that it was illegal for him to refuse legitimate requests for the concession made under the Environmental Information Act.

 The High Court ruled that parts of the document must be released by him and there are others where he has a discretion.

 I welcome the fact that his department has accepted the ruling and has also issued a press release on new road contracts saying that 'the assumption will be that contracts to which the department is party will in future made available on request once they are signed.'

 Given, then, that there has been public concern over the contents of the secret contract, and that there is outstanding litigation on the motorway, and in the spirit of open government, I believe John Prescott should release all the contents of the concession at once, including the cancellation charges.

 While I consider it regrettable that Midland Expressway Limited continue to oppose the release of this information which should be in the public domain, I do not believe this should hinder the Government in exercising its rights and obligations to the public.