Government has promised to publish an account of meetings with lobbyists every three months, but has not done so

This article is more than 9 years old

This article is more than 9 years old

David Cameron has been criticised by Labour MPs for failing to provide parliament with details of his meetings with executives at News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch's media company.

The prime minister has replied to written questions tabled by two Labour MPs saying that appointments with "external organisations" would be published as part of a separate list of ministerial meetings.

The government has promised to publish an account of departmental meetings with lobbyists and other bodies every three months, but is yet to do so.

Michael Dugher, Labour MP for Barnsley East, asked Cameron if he had met executives at News Corp or its subsidiary News International, which publishes its UK newspapers. Tom Watson, the former Labour minister who represents West Bromwich East, asked a similar question.

In his written answer Cameron said: "Information on official meetings with external organisations will be published in accordance with the ministerial code."

Dugher tonight accused the prime minister of "evasion" and said other ministers had given details of their dealings with News Corp.

Last week, business secretary Vince Cable confirmed he had "a short introductory phone call" with James Murdoch, who runs News Corp's European and Asian businesses, in June.

"The prime minister promised transparency yet all we have had is evasion," Dugher said. "What has he got to hide? Vince Cable has been honest and straightforward. Why can't David Cameron?"

The conversation between Cable and James Murdoch took place on the same day News Corp bid for BSkyB, the pay-TV company in which it holds a stake. Sources close to the company say the call was placed out of courtesy.

An alliance of media organisations including Guardian Media Group, which publishes the Guardian, have written to Cable urging him to block the bid on public interest grounds.

Previous meetings between News Corp executives and culture secretary Jeremy Hunt have also been confirmed following questions from MPs.