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The White House-style press briefings are among a number of possible changes planned for government communications.

However, senior ministers are worried that regular appearances in front of the cameras could lead to them being grilled on areas outside of their policy areas.

The televising of the briefings, given by Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman to journalists, is one of the key recommendations in the Phillis Review into Government Communications and one that is being backed by senior figures in Downing Street.

The review, chaired by Guardian Media Group chief executive Bob Phillis, published its report yesterday and a full response is now expected from the government.

The Phillis review was ordered after the government ran into a series of communications problems, most notably the debacle involving Jo Moore, a Labour Party-appointed Department of Transport communications adviser, and civil servant PR man Martin Sixsmith.

Moore sent an email out on September 11 2001 suggesting that it would be a good day to bury bad news. She ignored calls for her resignation at the time but later went, as did Sixsmith over another email implying the pair had discussed burying news on the day of Princess Margaret's funeral.

Since then it has emerged that there was serious infighting at the department leading to the intervention of Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair's then PR adviser.

The review has said a top-to-bottom overhaul is needed in government communications, ranging from changes to the way staff are hired to the way ministers communicate important information.

In addition to calling for televised press briefings, the review also recommended that a permanent secretary lead the central civil service communications division and provide strategic leadership for communications across government.

A code of practice was also recommended and it said that all communications appointments should be recruited to the same high standards to end inconsistency in recruitment.

The Phillis review team published its interim report last year, which said there was a "three-way breakdown in trust between government and politicians, the media and general public".

The interim report recommended that a permanent secretary responsible for communications be appointed. This was accepted by government and a search to fill the role was launched last month.

Another recommendation that emerged from the interim report and was accepted by government was to reduce the powers of the Prime Minster's communications director, a role filled by David Hill who replaced Campbell last year.

Hill was also an original member of the Phillis review.

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