Labour left red-faced after attacking Moore over information request

Labour launched an "unfounded" attack on Scottish Secretary Michael Moore after the party mistakenly requested information from the wrong department, the Scotland Office says.

Shadow Scotland Office minister Tom Greatrex issued a press release attacking Mr Moore for "failing to fight Scotland's corner" after a Freedom of Information request returned no results.

Labour requested correspondence and notes of meetings with "relevant ministers" in the Department of Energy and Climate Change regarding the Green Investment Bank (GIB), a project to raise funding for environmental projects. Mr Moore, a Liberal Democrat, has repeatedly said he is "making the strongest case possible for the new GIB to be located in Scotland".

Mr Greatrex said: "He has not stuck to his word. Once again, Michael Moore has been caught failing to fight Scotland's corner." However, it later emerged the GIB is the responsibility of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

A Scotland Office spokesman said the attack was "both unfounded and unhelpful".