The absence of a transport white paper was seized on as one of the notable omissions as the government unveiled its plans for the coming year.

William Hague: Poked fun at John Prescott in the Commons debate

To the visible irritation of Mr Prescott, Conservative leader William Hague chose the omission as a focus of his attack on the new legislative schedule.

"We can see who the winners and losers are around the cabinet table," he told the Commons.

"The winners have got a Bill, the losers have got a draft Bill, the real losers have got their proposals 'taken forward', the completely defeated have got a consultation paper.

"And for those who've got nothing at all, at least there's the consolation of being deputy prime minister."

John Prescott was clearly annoyed by the Tory leader's attack

Mr Hague then asked Mr Prescott: "What's the point of having an integrated transport policy when you can't even integrate it into the government's programme?"

But the deputy prime minister denied other powerful ministers who were scared of appearing anti-car had side-lined him.

John Prescott on Radio 4's Today programme: "The reality is I've got a quarter of the programme"

"Out of 22 Queen's speech bill, I've got five - the reality is I've got a quarter of the programme."

"We're only at the second year of a five-year programme so give us a chance," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Mr Hague's speech, he said, was "long on humour and short on facts" - as were attacks from interest groups such as Friends of the Earth.

The BBC's Dominic Arkwright: "Many feel the momentum of integrated transport has been lost"

The deputy prime minister said promised congestion charges had been included in the London Bill and would be extended around the country.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has been accused of not supporting transport reform

"There's no doubt we will be using charges," he said. "Nobody's ever achieved before and I've achieved it in 18 months."

Mr Prescott admitted he had not received any prospect of legislation to make changes in the running of buses.

But he insisted he remained on track in his plans to integrated the UK's rail network, currently run by a number of separate private companies.

"The Queen's speech contains a strategic rail authority but I've said I don't want to wait and I'm getting on with the job by converting British Rail.

"All the Tories produced is a privatised rail network, which I'm spending most of my time trying to correct."

But transport campaigners are now sceptical about whether the dramatic change Mr Prescott promised will come.

Steven Joseph of Transport 2000 said: "We won't get the better regulation needed to make the trains run on time."

And Charles Secrett of Friends of the Earth insisted it would still be better to bring forward a single transport bill instead of piecemeal changes.