MPs accuse Alistair Darling of not being honest about debt

Alistair Darling must give more clarity over how he will tackle Britain's growing debt mountain, MPs demanded today.

The Chancellor was also accused of using the economic uncertainty to be less open that he could about the public finances and future tough decisions on spending. The criticism is made by the influential Treasury committee in a report on the pre-Budget report.

While accepting that economists were divided over when the belt-tightening should start, it added: "It will therefore be very important to add greater detail and clarity to the plan sooner rather than later."

Labour MP John McFall, chairman of the committee, said: "We consider clarity, even if it is clarity about the degree of uncertainty surrounding the forecasts, as essential to strengthening this crucial credibility."

In criticism which could raise questions over excessive political influence at the Treasury, the MPs said: "There is a sense that the Treasury are using uncertainty to suit themselves."

The committee also pointed out that despite the Treasury's belief that the PBR contained sufficient detail about how the deficit would be reduced, all the witnesses who gave evidence criticised the document for lack of detail.