A CONSERVATIVE MP will today table a question in the House of Commons after a by-election visit by a Labour Cabinet minister became embroiled in controversy.

John Hutton, Secretary of State for Business and Enterprise, toured NetPark, in Sedgefield, yesterday, accompanied by Labour candidate Phil Wilson.

Party officials insisted Mr Hutton's visit was made in a private capacity, but the Tories were fuming after their request for a similar visit earlier in the campaign was refused.

Conservative deputy chairman Michael Bates said that, ten days ago, he had asked NetPark to allow candidate Graham Robb and former party leader William Hague to visit the site.

But he said the request was turned down on the grounds that no political visits were to be allowed during the course of the by-election campaign.

Mr Bates: "Firstly, it is a case of double standards, having told us that there would be no political visits, and, secondly, we are concerned that John Hutton was there in a ministerial capacity and of course there are strict rules governing such visits."

Hexham MP Peter Atkinson said he would be tabling a Commons question today asking for the situation to be clarified.

However, Labour dismissed the claims. A regional party spokesman said: "John Hutton was there as John Hutton - there was no ministerial car, no ministerial staff and no ministerial transport."

He added: "If the Tories don't want to promote the region to the Government and ministers, that's up to them, but we certainly want people to know about what's happening in Sedgefield."

County Durham Development Company, which manages NetPark, declined to comment.