Ministers' Kelly role under scrutiny

Dr Kelly was found dead in July

The inquiry into the death of Dr David Kelly has heard how a row over a BBC report on the Iraq weapons dossier went to the top of government.

It emerged that Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon over-ruled his most senior civil servant over whether Dr Kelly should appear before MPs investigating how the case for war in Iraq was presented.

And the inquiry also heard that Tony Blair believed Dr Kelly should be asked for more details of his meeting with BBC reporter Andrew Gilligan.

The inquiry into Dr Kelly's death heard from officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Office on Thursday.

HUTTON INQUIRY Set up after apparent suicide of Dr David Kelly in July Dr Kelly was government expert in Iraq weapons programmes He was named as source of controversial BBC report Report alleged government had 'sexed up' a dossier on Iraq's weapons capability Government denies the allegations How the dossier changed Key points: Day four

Dr Kelly apparently committed suicide after being named as the possible source for Mr Gilligan's BBC report claiming Downing Street "sexed up" Iraq's weapons capability to help make the case for war.

The inquiry heard on Thursday about two meetings between Dr Kelly and MoD bosses a few days before his death, and about a flurry of memos as officials considered how to handle the row over the BBC report.

The inquiry was also shown how the dossier was strengthened and weakened in the days before publication in relation to the claim that Iraq could deploy weapons in 45 minutes.

And Martin Howard, the MoD's deputy chief of intelligence, accepted that that claim's wording appeared to have been "hardened" before publication.

It was also revealed Dr Kelly told a senior Foreign Office official that he had spoken to the BBC's Andrew Gilligan before the reporter's controversial broadcast about the weapons dossier.

Breach

The inquiry focused on meetings between Dr Kelly and MoD bosses on 4 and 7 July, after he had admitted his contact with Mr Gilligan and shortly before he was named in the media and then gave evidence to the Commons foreign affairs committee.

THE 45 MINUTE CLAIM 16 September dossier draft: Iraq "may be able to deploy chemical and biological weapons within 45 minutes of an order to do so". Final dossier: Judged that Saddam Hussein's "military planning allows some of the weapons of mass destruction to be ready within 45 minutes of an order to use them".

At the first meeting, Dr Kelly was warned that if he again breached civil service rules through unauthorised contact with journalists he would face disciplinary proceedings.

His line manager, Dr Bryan Wells, said Dr Kelly seemed "composed" at the meeting.

A memo from the permanent secretary in the Cabinet Office, Sir David Omand, showed that it was Tony Blair's view that "before we decided on what next step should be taken, it would be sensible to try and go into a bit more detail into the differences between what Dr Kelly said and what Mr Gilligan had claimed".

The inquiry heard that Mr Blair's view had prompted the 7 July meeting with Dr Kelly.

In another later memo, Ministry of Defence permanent secretary Kevin Tebbit recommended that Dr Kelly should not have to appear before the Commons foreign affairs committee.

But Mr Hoon's office argued that it would be "presentationally" difficult if Dr Kelly did not give evidence to the committee.

'Not on trial'

The inquiry heard that Mr Tebbit had told Mr Hoon: "The man came forward voluntarily. He is not on trial."

Kelly is not telling the whole story - we need a proper security style interview in which all the inconsistencies are thrashed out John Scarlett

Dr Kelly had expressed concern about facing a public hearing before the committee, the inquiry heard from Dr Wells and foreign office official Patrick Lamb.

But the inquiry heard that Dr Kelly had told Mr Lamb that he was happy with the way he was being treated by the MoD and that his pension was not under threat, as had been suggested.

Other key points to emerge on Thursday:

• MoD personnel director Richard Hatfield wrote to Dr Kelly on 14 July saying his actions had been "ill-judged" and had "awkward consequences" for him and the MoD.

• Joint Intelligence Committee head John Scarlett felt the "finger was pointing" at Dr Kelly as the source of Mr Gilligan's story.

• He said Dr Kelly was not telling the full story and a "proper security style interview" was needed.

• Dr Wells said Dr Kelly did not seem concerned that his name may be made public.

• He had said he did not believe he was the source of Mr Gilligan's report and appeared "content" with a draft press statement being planned by the MoD.

• Police had investigated the leaking of a top secret document they believed formed the basis of an Andrew Gilligan report on Iraq and al-Qaeda in February.

• Witnesses said there were suspicions that Dr Kelly was the source of an Observer report about mobile germ war laboratories.

• Dr Kelly was adamant he wasn't the source of Andrew Gilligan's report, he told colleagues.