Sir Alistair said industry could come to 'dominate' decisions

Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Sir Alistair Graham said this meant business could "dominate" policy.

The pharmaceutical and drinks industries had funded reports for parliamentary groups, The Times said.

Sir Alistair said many people would be "disturbed" by the relationships between business and parliament.

He told BBC Radio 4's The World at One such relationships were not "above board and transparent".

Lobbyists

All-party groups can ask ministers to appear before them and make recommendations to government on policy.

The Times found there were 300 of them, with two thirds being assisted by special interest groups.

The number wholly or partly financed by business or trade organisations was almost 100.

For example, the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group was given �45,100 by breweries.

If we don't ask questions, ministers - with civil servants providing information - will run rings around us John Grogan MP

Its chairman, Labour MP John Grogan, told the BBC News website the groups, gathering information from experts, allowed better scrutiny of ministers.

But he said that reports carried out by MPs should have the names of business backers on them.

At present these details only have to be published on groups' general websites, rather than on individual reports.

Mr Grogan said he and his colleagues were not "toadies" for the pub industry, adding: "Our findings are grist to the mill of debate and questioning.

"If it's all out in the open, I don't see there's a problem. If we don't ask questions, ministers - with civil servants providing information - will run rings around us."

Lib Dem MP Nick Harvey, vice-chairman of the group, said most payments by industry were "relatively small".

Taxpayers would be unhappy if they were asked to provide more funding for all-party groups, he added.

However, Mr Harvey said he did not "dismiss" concerns over the role of business.

Sir Alistair said private industry groups might "dominate" all-party groups in ways "such as writing their reports, providing all the secretarial and research work in a way which may - perhaps not immediately, but over a period of time - influence public policy."

Some 36 all-party groups received administrative and financial help from lobbyists.

Six did not list the name of their client - a breach of parliamentary rules - the Times found.