Tom Price, the US Health and Human Services Secretary, is to halt taxpayer-funded trips on private jets pending an internal review of his travel arrangements.

Mr Price, a key ally of Donald Trump charged with helping to repeal Obamacare, came under fire when it emerged that he and his department had spent more than $300,000 (£222,000) on charter flights.

Speaking on Fox News Mr Price said the use of private jets would be suspended while the programme is examined by Daniel Levinson, the department's inspector general.

“We’ve heard the criticism. We’ve heard the concerns. We take that very seriously and have taken it to heart,” Mr Price said.

He added that he would co-operate fully with the investigation.

But Mr Price denied extravagance, saying that the figures related to 11 trips over an eight-month period and related to both the recent hurricanes and the opioid crisis sweeping the United States.

On other occasions, Mr Price added, he and his staff, did use commercial flights and on occasion travelled by road, undertaking car trips lasting several hours.