TREASURY chiefs routinely accepted “cosy” dinner dates with lobbyists for banks even as they were being investigated for financial misconduct, an explosive new report reveals today.

An investigation by the National Audit Office also shows arms manufacturers are among the most frequent providers of hospitality and gifts to government officials.

The Whitehall watchdog found that senior civil servants accepted 3,413 corporate freebies between April 2012 and March 2015.