Transport official highlights infighting over West Coast bid The meeting of about a dozen officials is understood to have been chaired by Kate Mingay, the DfT's director, commercial and technical services. She is one of three officials who were suspended on October 3 after Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin pulled the West Coast franchise competition after finding "unacceptable mistakes" in his department's handling of the bid. Ms Mingay subsequently issued a statement maintaining she "did not have lead responsibility for this project." Mr Strachan's letter relates that "in the days leading up to this meeting, the risk adjustment process was being finalised." It was "at this late stage... that the department's technical advisers identified for the first time" that one bidder had "applied an overlay" to its 2012-13 revenue forecasts. Although he does not name the bidder, it is thought that the "overlay" refers to FirstGroup increasing its revenue projections on the grounds it believed it would market the service better. His letter explains that the department issued "an urgent CQ [contract question] to the relevant bidder on June 22." However, it is unclear whether officials at the CAC meeting five days later were made fully aware of the issue of the "overlay." Mr Strachan's letter appears inconclusive on what was decided at the meeting. He said there was "evidence that the CAC did not reach any decision" on the overlay, but goes on to say it may have "treated one bidder more favourably" by requesting a "reduced level of SLF." He adds that, whatever happened, FirstGroup should have been required to put more capital at risk. "If the CAC had decided to accept the overlay in part, it should have asked for a significantly higher level of SLF," he wrote, while if it had been rejected the CAC should have demanded "over double the level of SLF." Industry sources have dubbed his account an "anyone but Strachan letter" - a jokey reference to talk that the DfT adopted an "anyone but Branson" approach to deciding the bid, which it vigorously denies. The importance of the CAC meeting and the issues leading to the suspension of officials are expected to form a significant part of Mr Laidlaw's report this week. Asked why Mr Strachan wrote the letter, a DfT spokesman said it was a "matter of courtesy" to bidders. He added: "Issues about the CAC are part of the Laidlaw and internal HR inquiries and it is inappropriate to comment." As to talk that Mr Strachan may be moved from his current job, the spokesman only said: "Peter Strachan is in post." Neither Virgin nor FirstGroup would comment. A spokesman for Ms Mingay also declined to comment.