12/09/2003

Dyke called to give evidence at Hutton Inquiry

BBC Director General Greg Dyke has been called to give evidence in the second phase of the Hutton Inquiry into the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly.

Mr Dyke is one of a new batch of witnesses called to give evidence at the inquiry, which recommences on Monday, September 15.

The BBC chief is expected to be questioned about why he stood by reporter Andrew Gilligan's report on the Iraq dossier, despite doubts from the corporation's governors. He will also be expected to explain how the series of events leading up to Dr. Kelly's death unfolded.

The other new witnesses include Air Marshal Sir Joe French, who was head of defence intelligence, when the September dossier was compiled and also a member of the Joint Intelligence Committee and Tony Cragg, former deputy chief of defence intelligence. They are expected to provide further information about how the intelligence committee viewed the way the dossier was compiled, as well as the inclusion of the controversial 45-minute claim.

The final new witness is Dr. Richard Scott, Defence Science and Technology, who had had discussions with Dr. Kelly over his pay and grading.

It had been expected that Lord Hutton would also announce the names of witnesses from the first stage of the inquiry who would be asked back for further cross-examination. However, those recalled will probably include Prime Minister Tony Blair, his former director of communications, Alastair Campbell, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, John Scarlett and BBC reporter, Andrew Gilligan.

Lord Hutton said last week that recalling witnesses did not necessarily mean that they would be criticised in his report, which he plans to write after adjourning the second phase of the inquiry on September 25.

(KmcA)

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