The position of Ivan Lewis, the health minister responsible for maternity services in England, was called into question yesterday after he failed to represent the government at the launch of a new maternity strategy for the NHS.

Mr Lewis has been fighting a decision by NHS managers to close the maternity unit at Fairfield in Greater Manchester, close to his Bury South constituency. Last month he denied allegations in the Commons that he was hypocritical - backing the case for hospital reorganisation, but campaigning against it in his back yard.

Mr Lewis invited the BBC to film him at a London maternity unit on Monday to publicise the launch yesterday of a report by Sheila Shribman, the maternity "tsar". The report presented medical arguments for more midwife-led maternity units.

Mr Lewis is understood to have offered an interview to the BBC on condition that it would not ask questions about his constituency. When the BBC did not give that undertaking he became unavailable. Mr Lewis was absent from the press conference to launch Dr Shribman's report.

A spokesman for Mr Lewis said he was unable to attend the press briefing as he had a previous engagement in Bury. He returned to London to answer health questions in the Commons.