Scottish secretary Michael Moore has been ordered to release details of meetings he held about aircraft carrier work being carried out in Rosyth.
His office was also criticised by the information watchdog for the time it took to process a freedom of information (FOI) request about the meetings with defence secretary Liam Fox.
Labour described the decision by the information commissioner as a “humiliating slap down” for the Lib Dem.
The party had sought details of the meetings in October during a period of uncertainty over whether the £5.2 billion contract for the two aircraft carriers, which also involves work on the Clyde, would continue.
The Scotland Office refused the request, saying releasing the information could limit ministers’ ability to make decisions.
However, the information commissioner rejected that view and ordered release of the data. He criticised the length of time it took Mr Moore’s office to respond.
Dunfermline and West Fife MP Thomas Docherty said the decision was a “damning assessment” of the Scottish secretary.
“It is no wonder he wants to avoid difficult questions after doing so little to fight for the aircraft carriers and all the jobs that go with them, but this judgment forces him to release information he has been keeping secret,” he said.
“Michael Moore is meant to be Scotland’s man in the cabinet, but it seems he is the Tories’ man in Scotland.”
A spokesman for the Scotland Office said, “The Scotland Office takes its FOI duties seriously and answers requests diligently, and this case was no exception.”ReliefThere was relief for Babcock’s workforce in Rosyth in October, when the UK Government announced it would go ahead with the building of the aircraft carriers.
HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales are being built by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, which consists of BAE Systems, Babcock and Thales, as part of a £5.2 billion contract.
However, it is thought this could even rise to closer to £7 billion as a result of a redesign.
Many people feared the worst before the outcome of the strategic defence review, with some thinking the carriers contract would be axed or reduced with the loss of thousands of jobs.
Mr Docherty has welcomed a Commons report backing thecarrier construction programme.
The report by the highly influential House of Commons defence select committee has urged the government to finish the job by completing both carriers.
The cross-party committee of MPs has also criticised the government for leaving the UK without functioning aircraft carriers for 10 years by withdrawing the Harrier from service at the end of last year.
The Labour MP, who is a member of t he committee and who has championed Rosyth dockyard and the carrier programme, said, “The defence committee is very clear that both carriers must be fitted with the so-called ‘cats and traps’ system for launching and recovering fast jets.
“Not only is this the right decision for our military but it would also help secure the future of Rosyth into the early part of the next decade.
“I welcome the fact that my colleagues across the political spectrum have backed this policy.”