He also demanded the creation of a permanent, independent rail accident investigation branch at the DETR.

BBC: Rail inquiry report due on Friday

Meanwhile the Liberal Democrat's Don Foster insisted that Mr Byers "did mislead Parliament" and had failed in his job at the DETR.

BBC: Sixsmith: Byers 'tore up' agreement

"He made clear the Detr will not change its policy, whatever the findings of the Competition Commission in respect of planning, " the report said.

BBC: Keep supermarkets off the greenbelt - MPs

But in the reorganisation which followed the departure of Stephen Byers in 2002, Mr Prescott became head of the first formal Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - and regained the local and regional governmental responsibilities he had held at the DETR.

BBC: John Prescott