'No conspiracy' to name Kelly

Hoon: Ready to fight to save cabinet career

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has denied there was a deliberate plan to publicly identify Dr David Kelly after the weapons expert admitted meeting a BBC journalist.

He said there was "no conspiracy" to make Dr Kelly's name public, and he defended the decision to allow the scientist to give evidence to a committee of MPs.

And he insisted that Dr Kelly's anonymity had been protected at all stages, adding: "I cannot see in any way that Dr Kelly was poorly treated in the process inside the MoD."

He said he had not been involved in the decision to announce that an official had come forward, saying that was made by Cabinet Office and Downing Street officials.

But Mr Hoon admitted that he had known about the media strategy whereby MoD press officers would confirm Dr Kelly's name if it was put to them by journalists.

From the moment he stepped into the witness box, Geoff Hoon was adamant: he played no part in any strategy to name David Kelly The BBC's Andy Tighe Analysis: Hoon comes out fighting

Later on day 10 of the inquiry, a former colleague of the scientist, Wing Commander John Clark, told of his final conversations with Dr Kelly.

The scientist had been "tired and stressed" after giving evidence to two committees.

Wg Cdr Clark last spoke to Dr Kelly over the details of a letter to MPs minutes before the weapons expert left his Oxfordshire home on 17 July. His body was found the following day.

Interest

The inquiry also heard from Ann Taylor, chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, who said the row between the BBC and the government over the dossier was a "marginal" issue to her committee's inquiry.

But it was the evidence of Mr Hoon, the first minister to appear before the inquiry, which drew most interest ahead of Tony Blair's appearance on Thursday.

The defence secretary said "question and answer" briefing papers for Ministry of Defence press officers were not intended to include information which would help journalists identify the scientist.

It was extremely important - in fairness to Dr Kelly - not to expose him as the single source without being sure that that was true Geoff Hoon Final phone calls revealed

They were drawn up to help staff deal with questions from journalists after the MoD announced that an official had admitted meeting the BBC's Andrew Gilligan.

Mr Hoon, who said he had not been involved in drawing up the papers, told the inquiry: "If you are suggesting that there was some deliberate effort here to identify Dr Kelly, I say that is absolutely wrong."

He said it was not the case that there was "some sort of conspiracy, some sort of strategy, some sort of plan covertly to make his name known".

Other key points:

• Mr Hoon said he had only named Dr Kelly on one occasion, to Gavyn Davies, chairman of the BBC governors, in a private letter.
• Mr Hoon said he asked the Commons foreign affairs committee to restrict Dr Kelly's appearance before it to 45 minutes out of concern for the scientist
• Asked about suggestions that he did not want Dr Kelly to be questioned on his views about the dossier, he said he was concerned to avoid a "long, open-ended appearance" before the committee
• Mr Hoon said he had viewed Dr Kelly's admission that he had spoken to Mr Gilligan as an "opportunity" to crack down on leaks by MoD staff.

Mr Hoon said refusing to allow Dr Kelly to appear before the foreign affairs committee, would have led to a "great campaign in the press" and efforts from MPs to persuade them to allow him to give evidence.

MAIN WITNESSES THIS WEEK TUESDAY 26 AUGUST John Scarlett, chairman of the Cabinet Office Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) WEDNESDAY 27 AUGUST Geoff Hoon, Defence Secretary Ann Taylor, Chairman of Intelligence and Security Committee THURSDAY 28 AUGUST Tony Blair, Prime Minister Gavyn Davies, BBC Chairman BBC row 'marginal'

Mr Hoon also said he was not aware that details about Dr Kelly were being revealed at a Downing Street media briefing.

After Dr Kelly had come forward, Mr Hoon said he had not believed he should be named because he was not convinced he was the sole source of BBC reports about the government "sexing up" its Iraq weapons dossier.

But he was concerned that the government could be accused of a cover up if it did not pass on the news that an official had come forward.

He denied using the phrase "plea bargain" while debating how to handle the situation with government communications chief Alastair Campbell.

And he described his doubts about Mr Campbell's suggestion of leaking the news that an official had come forward. The development was eventually made public in the Ministry of Defence press statement.

Mr Hoon said he had spoken to Dr Kelly in the MoD canteen in April and the weapons expert had expressed strong support for the government's approach to Iraq.

He said had not known at the time that the official was Dr Kelly, but was reminded of the meeting by the scientist's family when he visited their home after his death.