Bidders for the modernisation of the London Underground were this week in talks with mayor Ken Livingstone over the merits of the public-private partnership scheme.
Livingstone, an opponent of the scheme who has labelled the bidders as "scum", is understood to have raised his concerns about the PPP to representatives of the participating firms.

The mayor is on a collision course with the government over the best routes of financing the Tube. Under the PPP scheme, three 30-year private sector contracts will be awarded for the modernisation and maintenance of the system.

A decision on preferred bidders for the scheme is due to be made at the end of the year, in time for the handover of responsibility to the mayor in April 2001.

The Greater London Authority refused to discuss any details of the meeting, although it is understood that chief executives of the consortiums were present.