The government insists it is being ‘transparent’ about decisions on the coronavirus crisis, despite withholding key details of the scientific body advising them.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) holds meetings to discuss the Covid-19 pandemic and then advises ministers.
Sage has become active to advise on the UK Government's response to the coronavirus pandemic - with ministers repeatedly saying their decisions are based on “the science.”
But Number 10 has refused to name the scientists who make up the committee.
And the minutes of their meetings, which have been published during previous medical emergencies, have not been made public.
The membership of the body typically includes leading experts from within Government and leading specialists from the fields of academia and industry.
The group typically is chaired by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, who at the moment is Sir Patrick Vallance.
Boris Johnson's official spokesman pointed to a letter from Sir Patrick to the chair of the Commons Science and Technology committee last week.
He wrote: "The decision to not disclose Sage membership for the time being is based upon advice from the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure and is in line with the standard procedure for Cobra meetings.
"This contributes towards safeguarding of individual members' personal security and protects them from lobbying and other forms of unwanted influence which may hinder their ability to give impartial advice."
The spokesman noted Sir Patrick has also said the membership of Sage is different for different meetings.
Asked if there was a reason the group's findings and advice were not published, the spokesman said: "We will continue to publish the scientific data and evidence Sage considers.
"We try to publish the documents as often as possible and this is generally taking place a few weeks after each meeting. That will continue."
But the spokesman insisted the Government was being transparent.
He said: "We are being transparent in regularly publishing the research and the evidence base that forms decisions which Sage is advising on.
"I'd also stress that every day we're providing the government's scientific and medical advisors for scrutiny via press conferences."
Last August, Sage was activated in response to the potential breach of Toddbrook reservoir in Whaley Bridge.
A Precautionary Sage (known as Pre-Sage) was activated to advise on the Zika virus outbreak in 2016.
In 2015, Sage was activated to advise on the Nepal earthquake, and in 2014 it was activated in response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
Sage also advised on winter flooding in the UK in 2013, the Japan nuclear incident in 2011, the volcanic ash emergency in 2010 and the Swine Flu pandemic in 2009.
