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Chair of the Public Accounts Committee Margaret Hodge MP says she fears accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers "may have misled Parliament" over their practices.

Pricewaterhouse Coopers declined our invitation to speak to us. But they sent us this statement in response to the MPs' report:

"We stand by the evidence we gave the Public Accounts Committee and disagree with its conclusions about the work we do. But we recognise we need to do more to explain the positive role we play in the tax system and in helping businesses to operate successfully."

We also asked PwC for a response to our enquiries about its staff being seconded to a number of MPs' offices. They said:

"In the interests of the firm and its clients, we seek to develop and maintain constructive relationships with the main political parties. Our people provide limited and fully disclosed technical support to the main political parties in areas where our expertise and knowledge of the business environment can help them better understand technical matters and the consequences of their policy proposals. In considering any assistance, the Executive Board has regard to the possible impact on clients of the firm and the firm's overall reputation."

The Labour Party refused our requests to speak to any of the Shadow Cabinet members who've had PwC staff working for them, for free. They sent this statement:

"PwC have provided long standing support to all three major political parties on a non-Party basis, as happened for the Conservatives and Lib Dems before the last election. Given the complexity of government and that opposition parties do not have significant access to civil servants, the support provided by organisations such as these helps ensure that there is better scrutiny of Government policy. Where organisations provide staff to support research and analysis for opposition parties it is right that these are declared - as currently happens - in the Register of Members' Interests."

Similarly the Liberal Democrats wouldn't provide us with an interviewee. They also sent a statement:

“In common with other political parties and government departments the Liberal Democrats have employees seconded to us on a short term basis.

We benefit from the support and advice of those who join us, whilst giving them exposure to a political party in which policies are voted on by our membership.“

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