Labour has accused the government of "blocking" a full investigation into Defence Secretary Liam Fox's working relationship with close friend Adam Werrity.
Shadow deputy prime minister Harriet Harman charged the government with failing to refer Mr Fox to the independent adviser on ministers' interests, as it was revealed he met his best man on 18 foreign visits and 22 times at the Ministry of Defence in the past 16 months.
But deputy PM Nick Clegg said Mr Fox had apologised to Parliament for blurring professional, political and personal boundaries and that the cabinet secretary was investigating the matter.
During deputy prime minister's questions on 11 October 2011 Harriet Harman said: "The deputy prime minster has always lectured us on high standards in public office but while the defence secretary, by his own admission, has fallen short of those standards the government has failed to refer him to the independent adviser on ministers' interests, Sir Philip Mawer.
"Doesn't this show that they are prepared to sacrifice high standards in public office to protect the secretary of state?"
Mr Clegg replied that it was important to respect "due process and fair play" in carrying out the investigation.
But Ms Harman said David Cameron had admitted that Mr Fox had made "serious mistakes" and told MPs there was clearly a need for an investigation - particularly into whether Mr Werritty had profited from his association with the defence secretary.
"Why are they blocking the proper investigation?" she asked. "This goes to the heart of trust in government."
Mr Clegg said the defence secretary had apologised, the prime minister had made it clear he took the matter seriously and a full investigation was already under way.
"Let's allow the cabinet secretary to do the work that he's been asked to do so that the full facts can be made available to the prime minister and decisions can be made," he told her.
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