The Department of Trade and Industry has been attacked for misleading the public and parliament in the course of defending its refusal to reveal details of cases involving "whistleblowing" over fraud or health and safety at work.

Ann Abraham, the parliamentary ombudsman, up-held complaints against the department following its five-year battle with Public Concern at Work, the charity, which had helped to get on the statute book the Public Interest Disclosure Act, which protects employees against unfair dismissal for whistleblowing.