Sir Cover-Up ‘blocks questions on EU’

tOrY MPs have accused the cabinet Secretary of showing ‘contempt for parliament’ by blocking the release of sensitive information about the impact of the eU on public services.

in a strongly-worded letter, four conservatives have accused Sir Jeremy Heywood of ordering civil servants to refuse to answer parliamentary questions that might jeopardise David cameron’s bid to keep Britain in the eU.

the furious MPs say departments are refusing to provide up-to-date figures on issues such as the value of child benefit pay- ments sent abroad, even though they have been readily answered in previous years.

Sir Jeremy, dubbed Sir cover-Up, is also accused of politicising the civil service by effectively ordering officials to back the remain camp.

today’s letter is signed by prominent eurosceptic and chairman of the commons public administration committee Bernard Jenkin, as well as William Wragg, Anne Main and Karl Mccartney.

they state: ‘When the Government has been spending millions of pounds on proeU propaganda, the fact they are not prepared to provide information about how the eU impacts on a range of important policy areas, such as pressures on the nHS, or the availability of school places, or the amount of benefit payments exported to nationals of other eU states, suggests that they have something to hide.’

commons Speaker John Bercow has also raised concerns about the delays in some departments answering questions.

in many cases, departments have said they are unable to answer in the short term, but will provide answers in ‘due course’ – almost certainly after next week’s referendum.

the cabinet Office was asked for comment but did not respond. A Government spokesman dismissed claims of a co-ordinated cover-up or bias by Sir Jeremy, adding: ‘We have received this letter and will be replying in due course.’