Blair told ministers to disobey order by ombudsman

Tony Blair personally blocked the release of information to an MP and ordered his ministers to overrule the Parliamentary watchdog who ordered its disclosure, Sir Richard Wilson revealed yesterday. The head of the civil service admitted that the Prime Minister had decided for political reasons to take the unprecedented step of ignoring the Parliamentary Ombudsman and refusing to release answers to questions.

He decided ministers should not obey the decision because it could could set a precedent for further potentially embarrassing disclosures and lead to unwanted media attention.

The Tory MP Andrew Robathan MPhad asked which ministers had made declarations of interest to their colleagues under the ministerial code of conduct or who had sought the advice of their permanent secretaries on the matter. The ombudsman ruled, after an investigation, that there was no reason why the information could not be disclosed under the government's codes on access to official information.

But he was ignored. Sir Michael Buckley said he was so dismayed he had considered stopping investigating complaints about the Government's adherence to the code altogether. "There are serious implications for the whole reputation and standing of my office," he told MPs yesterday.

Sir Richard, in intense questioning from the public administration select committee, admitted the decision to overrule Sir Michael was taken by Downing Street. Until now, the blame for failing to disclose the information was pinned on Jack Straw, then Home Secretary.

"This is something that was considered at the highest level," Sir Richard told the committee. "The fact is that the information could have been used in relation to a particular minister. From time to time ministers become the target of media attention."

The committee also heard that a "cock-up" at the Home Office, and not a conspiracy was to blame for the withholding of papers about Peter Mandelson's role in the Hinduja affair from the Parliamentary Ombudsman. The department's permanent secretary John Gieve, told the select committee that disorganised and incomplete files and other delays had led to a seven-month delay in disclosing the papers.

He said papers were missing from an 18ins-thick Hinduja file, which had been put in a separate folder. "It is very regrettable, but actually this was not a conspiracy to hide things, all of which had already been published. It was sheer pressure of work and administrative convenience and a cock-up."

Mr Tony Blair was also consulted about whether to release the papers.