Mr Loughton had painted a critical picture of the workings of the Department for Education for the select committee, saying ministers were not allowed to wander around the department and talk to people unofficially and that all meetings had to be minuted.

BBC: Education & Family

His critics have accused him of being complicit in the culture of "sofa government" in Blair's Downing Street, citing evidence given to the Hutton Inquiry into the death of Dr David Kelly that some of the key meetings between politicians and officials were not minuted during that period.

BBC: Profile: Jeremy Heywood - the next Cabinet Secretary