Q&A: An inquiry into the Iraq War

The families of British casualties are among those calling for an inquiry

The Conservatives are pushing for a full public inquiry into the war in Iraq.

They will use an Opposition Day debate to put the matter to a vote in parliament, and will be hoping to encourage rebel Labour MPs to support them.

Who wants a public inquiry?

Most opposition MPs and some rebel Labour MPs.

The Conservatives - who are behind the latest attempt to force the government to hold an immediate inquiry - made their first attempt in June last year, but lost the vote in parliament by 288 to 253.

The Liberal Democrats support today's Conservative motion in parliament, and have also tabled an amendment to it, calling in addition for an apology for the war.

An unsuccessful attempt to force an inquiry in November 2006 was tabled by Scottish and Welsh Nationalist MPs.

Members of the House of Lords, led by the former Conservative Party Chairman Lord Fowler, called for an inquiry in January.

Families of British soldiers killed and wounded in the conflict have also demanded an inquiry, and have challenged the government's decision not to hold one in the courts, but without success.

Why are they calling for an inquiry?

They want to examine how the decision to go to war was reached, whether it was legal, whether troops were properly prepared, how the conflict was conducted and what planning there was for its aftermath.

What did previous inquiries conclude?

The four inquiries cited by the government were conducted by the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee, Lord Hutton and Lord Butler.

The Foreign Affairs Select Committee inquiry took place in July 2003, and looked into claims that the intelligence used to justify the war had been exaggerated.

There are still 4,000 British troops deployed in Iraq

This was the inquiry remembered for the very robust questioning of Dr David Kelly which preceded his death.

It also cleared the Prime Minister's spokesman Alastair Campbell of "sexing-up" the dossier relating to Iraq's possible possession of weapons of mass destruction.

The Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee in September 2003 also investigated the intelligence material which was used to justify the war.

This inquiry also cleared Alastair Campbell of "sexing-up" the dossier of evidence, but it said the dossier was "unbalanced".

The Hutton inquiry, in January 2004, examined the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr Kelly, and allegations that the government knew that claims that Iraq could deploy weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes were false.

Lord Hutton cleared the government and criticised the BBC for its reporting of the allegations.

The Butler inquiry of July 2004 looked once again at the intelligence which was used to justify the war. It was critical of MI6 and of the government, but ruled that there had been no intentional deception.

How long might such an inquiry last?

It could potentially last for years, in line with previous public inquiries such as the one into the Bloody Sunday deaths in Northern Ireland, but the four investigations detailed above took just a few months each.

Is an inquiry likely before the next election?

The Conservative motion calls for an immediate, full inquiry by the Privy Council.

Brown: no inquiry while UK troops are still deployed in Iraq

If the motion fails, an inquiry is unlikely to take place before the next election, which is due by 2010.

This is because Gordon Brown has said there will be no inquiry while British troops are still in Iraq. While it is possible that they would all to be withdrawn by 2010, it is probably not likely.

The government wants to reduce their numbers from some 4,000 to 2,500 this year, but that will depend on events on the ground in Iraq.