The figures were obtained by Conservative MP Steve Barclay, who has accused outgoing NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson of either failing to ask questions about the orders or being involved in a cover-up.
The orders, some of which cost £500,000, have silenced 52 people since 2008.
Barclay is a member of the commons watchdog the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which Nicholson is due to appear in front of today.
In March this year, health secretary Jeremy Hunt banned gagging orders. He said: "The era of gagging NHS staff from raising their real worries about patient care must end."
He also wrote to every NHS trust to make clear he believes gagging clauses are illegal and not in the spirit of the health service.
Speaking to Sky news, Barclay, said: "[Nicholson] gave an assurance to Parliament in March that he would investigate this and we discover he has done absolutely nothing.
"Given his own deputy knew about this, given around a fifth of hospitals have made these payments, it is very hard to believe that he didn't know - and then the question is why didn't he - or he did know in which case he has not been straight with Parliament."
He added: "We need to change the culture in the NHS and we need a culture where people feel confident about speaking out about problems.
"There is movement within the NHS but I think Sir David is an impediment to that and the sooner he goes the better."
Nicholson has worked in the health service for 35 years, and was in charge of the regional health authority responsible for Stafford Hospital for a short period while patients were being mistreated.
