Self interest is being alleged as why the Corrections Department is sitting on reports about the deaths of two inmates in Mount Eden prison.

The Department confirms there have been two incidents at Mount Eden prison that have resulted in prisoner deaths, but the Coroner is still to confirm a cause of death.

And while the two deaths are before the Coroner, the Corrections Department is declining to release any reports its received, or prepared, about them.

It said to do so would prejudice the maintenance of the law.

It's also refusing to release the reports to protect the privacy of the dead inmates.

But Labour MP Kelvin Davis doesn't think that's appropriate.

He believes the Govt is only trying to protect themselves.

"In particular, where the families of the deceased have already spoken out and have already made many things public - really, the people who want to keep it private are Corrections and the Government because it is publicly and politically embarrassing for them."