FRESH accusations of secrecy have been made to the Church Commissioners over the sale of the Zurbaran paintings, ahead of their visit to the region today.

Helen Goodman, the Bishop Auckland MP, hit out at the failure to properly answer a series of written Parliamentary questions she tabled nearly a fortnight ago.

Many of the questions have not been answered at all – despite a deadline for doing so – while others have been met with incomplete responses.

It means key details including who made the decision to sell the paintings and the cost of preparing the aborted sale – remain under wraps.

Ms Goodman said: “It’s very disappointing that the commissioners have not been forthcoming with the answers to my questions.

“I am still waiting for many of the answers, which means we don’t know who attended the meetings when the decision was taken and how much has been spent on professionals.”

The fresh row began ahead of today’s visit to Bishop Auckland – the historic home of the £15m paintings for 250 years – by Andreas Whittam Smith, the First Church Estates Commissioner, responsible for £5bn of investments.

Mr Whittam Smith agreed to visit the town after the storm of protest resulting from The Northern Echo’s expose of the attempt to rush through the sale of the paintings next month.

The row even reached the General Synod of the Church of England last week.

Mr Whittam Smith will hold talks with the Bishop of Jarrow, the Right Reverend Mark Bryant, among others, but will insist the paintings must be sold, to fund the Church’s ministry.

However, he will calm fears over the future of Auckland Castle, where the paintings hang, after his deputy, Tory MP Tony Baldry, suggested the castle should also be sold.

The replies received by Ms Goodman include an inquiry about which commissioners attended key meetings.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are among those entitled to attend.

But the reply, from Mr Baldry, read simply: “The majority of the board were present at each meeting.”

Similarly, a question about the costs of consultants and other professionals met with the response: “For reasons of commercial sensitivity, the Church Commissioners are unable to disclose the details of any professional costs incurred.”

Ms Goodman will have another opportunity to question Mr Baldry tomorrow, when the first oral commissioners’ questions is held since The Northern Echo’s revelations.

The Zurbarans cannot be sold until next summer because of a lack of suitable slots at London’s top auction houses.