A UK Government leaflet urging every household in Britain to vote to remain in the EU has been branded 'one-sided propaganda'.

Justice secretary Michael Gove said the leaflet is "wrong" in a time of austerity. It is believed that the production will cost around £9m.

Gove said: "I want a fair campaign, I want to hear from both sides.

"I just think it is wrong that at a time of austerity, £9m of taxpayers' money is being spent on a one-sided piece of propaganda.

"That money should be being spent on the NHS and the people's priorities, not on propaganda."

The decision to launch the leaflet was defended by the Prime Minister. David Cameron insisted that he would "make no apology" for informing voters of his government's position.

Cameron said: "We are not neutral in this. We think it would be a bad decision to leave. We think it would be bad for our economy, bad for jobs, bad for investment, bad for families' finances.

"We think it would be bad for universities. We are not neutral so we have made a clear stance in this leaflet which everyone will get a copy of."

He continued: "There is nothing to stop the government from setting out its view in advance of the campaign and that's what the government did in 1975, when we last had a referendum.

"I want everyone in the country to know just how strongly the government, that works on your behalf - you might not agree with everything it does but it works on your behalf - feel that the right choice is to stay in.

"That is why we are spending this money.

"I want everyone to have all the information at their fingertips but I absolutely make no apology for the fact that the government has a strong view and wants everyone to know that strong view."

The leaflet will be delivered to households in England from next week. Due to the Holyrood election in Scotland it will be posted to Scottish households after May 5.

Election watchdog the Electoral Commission said the leaflet did not breach election rules. The Commission earlier asked Parliament to not allow any such government campaigning but it was not agreed to by MPs, leaving the government free to send such communications.

A Commission spokeswoman said: "After the referendum on Scottish independence, the Electoral Commission recommended that governments should conduct no taxpayer-funded advertising activity during the regulated period.

"However, Parliament decided not to put any legal restrictions on Government activity until 28 days before the poll, the 27th of May. These are the same rules that were in place for other recent referendums."

She said: "The Electoral Commission is responsible for regulating the rules on spending in the run-up to the EU referendum.

"The rules on spending apply during the regulated period which starts on 15 April and ends on polling day, 23 June.

"The rules exclude spending that is met out of public funds, which includes spending by the Government on the Government information booklet."