Key parties receive Hutton report

Lord Hutton's hearings went on for six weeks

The main players in Lord Hutton's inquiry into the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly are now finding out the judge's view of their actions.

The government, BBC and Dr Kelly's family were among those given advance copies of Lord Hutton's report at lunchtime on Tuesday.

The contents will not be made public for another 24 hours.

Dr Kelly apparently killed himself last July after being named as the source for a BBC story on Iraqi weapons.

Confidentiality pledge

Lord Hutton was asked to inquire into the circumstances surrounding Dr Kelly's death, and has spent more than four months writing up his findings after a public inquiry lasting six weeks.

He will outline his main findings with a televised statement at 1230 GMT on Wednesday, with full publication to follow an hour later.

INQUIRY BACKGROUND September 2002: Government produces dossier about alleged Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, including claim they could be deployed within 45 minutes May 2003: BBC Today programme's Andrew Gilligan broadcasts report of claims Downing Street "sexed up" dossier, with 45 mins claim included against intelligence agencies' wishes 10 July 2003:Dr David Kelly named as suspected source of report as government continues to deny the story 17 July 2003: Dr Kelly found dead August 2003: Lord Hutton begins six weeks of hearings about the circumstances around Dr Kelly's death Q&A: Hutton's impact on BBC

Prime Minister Tony Blair will then address MPs and take questions on the report in the House of Commons from 1400 GMT.

Those allowed to see the report early have had to sign promises they will leak none of its contents.

BBC Today programme defence correspondent Andrew Gilligan, Newsnight science editor Susan Watts and the parliamentary authorities are the other parties getting advance notice of the findings.

Dr Kelly was Mr Gilligan's source for his story about claims the government "sexed up" its weapons dossier.

The government scientist raised concerns about the dossier in a separate conversation with Ms Watts.

Conclusions leaked?

The Sun newspaper claims to have been told the conclusions of the report.

The newspaper claims Lord Hutton says the BBC report that Downing Street "sexed up" the dossier was "unfounded"

And there was no "dishonourable, underhand or duplicitous strategy" by Tony Blair or the government to leak Dr Kelly's name as the BBC's suspected source.

It claims Lord Hutton says the Ministry of Defence was "to be criticised" for not telling Dr Kelly his name could be confirmed to journalists or that it had eventually emerged.

He notes, however, that the scientist was not an "easy man to help or advise".

But he criticises the BBC governors for failing to make a detailed investigation into whether Andrew Gilligan's story was supported by his notes, says the article.

Sun's gloss?

It is understood the newspaper has not seen the full report but has had parts of the findings read to it.

BBC media correspondent Nick Higham said the Sun had throughout the inquiry put the worst construction on evidence about the BBC and the best gloss on the government's action.

"It may be that what we are getting is a version of Lord Hutton's views filtered through the Sun's eyes," he told the BBC 10 o'clock news.

Downing Street on Tuesday evening categorically denied that anybody authorised by the government to see the report had spoken about it anybody else.

Ministers received their copies of Lord Hutton's report just hours before the government scraped victory over university top-up fees by just five votes.

Conservative leader Michael Howard and his Liberal Democrat counterpart Charles Kennedy will not see the findings until 0600 GMT on Wednesday.