Ashford MP and immigration minister Damian Green has been called to account over claims that the government deliberately massaged Home Office figures on drug seizures at ports and airports.

The MP is facing questions over a government press release that is claimed breached ministerial rules and used 'highly selective' statistics about drug seizures.

The development is an embarrassment for the Home Office as strict rules are in place designed to stop politicians from spinning official data to create a good impression.

But Mr Green has been told to explain why a press release was issued that purported to show an apparent increase in drug seizures just days before official data showed a decline.

The chair of the UK Statistics Authority, Sir Michael Scholar, has written to Mr Green asking for a reassurance that the Home Office did not deliberately publish a press release suggesting a rise in seizures of Class A drugs to enhance the reputation of the UK Border Agency.

The letter says: "It is highly selective in its choice of statistics, in order, it seems, to show the UK Border Agency in a good light."

The letter added that if this was the case it would be "highly corrosive and damaging".

Sir Michael described the publication of the first figures as "irregular and inconsistent" with the UK Statistics Authority's code of practice and the Ministerial Code, and said it should not happen again.

The UKBA said it took its responsibilities under the Statistics Authority's code of practice seriously.