Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Monday, 13 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 23 October 2003. It was answered by Tony Blair (Labour) on Thursday, 23 October 2003 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister

Question: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his statement of 4th June 2003, 406 c148, what subsequent communication with the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee he has had in respect of disquiet over the 45-minute claim made by members of the Defence Intelligence staff prior to the final publication of the dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, of September 2002; and whether the Defence Intelligence staff brought to his attention the disquiet after he requested that if people had any evidence on the matter they should produce it. - None, this matter was considered by the Intelligence and Security Committee in its report on Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction - Intelligence and Assessments Cm 5972.

Answer: Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his statement of 4 June 2003, Official Report, column 148, what subsequent communication with the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee he has had in respect of disquiet over the 45-minute claim made by members of the Defence Intelligence staff prior to the final publication of the dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, of September 2002; and whether the Defence Intelligence staff brought to his attention the disquiet after he requested that if people had any evidence on the matter they should produce it. [132490] The Prime Minister: None. This matter was considered by the Intelligence and Security Committee in its report on "Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction--Intelligence and Assessments" (Cm 5972), copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. It has also been covered in both written and oral evidence to the Hutton Inquiry which has been published on its website at www.the-hutton- inquiry.org.uk.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 132490; 411 c647W;411 c651W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Deployment Intelligence services Iraq Weapons Joint Intelligence Committee
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk