The criminal records row escalated yesterday when David Cameron accused ministers of being more interested in protecting themselves than the public.

Also at Westminster, Charles Clarke, the former Home Secretary, launched a scathing attack on the judiciary, saying it often seemed "utterly unaware" of the security implications of its decisions, particularly in cases involving the Human Rights Act.

Giving evidence to a Lords committee, he warned judges were jeopardising the fight against terrorism.

Mr Clarke pointed out how one Court of Appeal ruling blocking the deportation of Afghans who took over a passenger plane amounted to a "tacit invitation to terrorist hijackers". He added it was also "disgraceful" that law lords refused to discuss issues of legal principle with ministers to help them make legislation which would survive scrutiny by the courts.

Earlier at a stormy Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron branded the crime files row a "scandal" and "fiasco", asked Tony Blair why Joan Ryan, a Home Office minister, was still in her job when she knew about the problem and demanded publication of letters between police and ministers.

The Prime Minister said the backlog of cases was not drawn to Ms Ryan's attention, an internal inquiry was ongoing, and, following inspection by police and ministers, there were "no significant public protection issues that have arisen in respect of the criminal records checks so far".