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Iraq inquiry focuses on aftermath Brown 'guillotined' MoD funding
(about 1 hour later)
A retired senior civil servant is facing the Iraq inquiry for a second time to answer questions about planning for the aftermath of the war. Gordon Brown insisted on a "complete guillotine" of defence spending just a few months after the invasion of Iraq, a former senior official has said.
Sir Kevin Tebbit, former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence, has previously called the UK's planning for the conflict "cautious". Sir Kevin Tebbit called the £1bn cut - made by the then chancellor in December 2003 as troops were dealing with the post-war situation- "arbitrary".
He is expected to face more questions on preparedness for a campaign in which 179 UK service personnel died. The former Ministry of Defence permanent secretary told the Iraq inquiry he had run "a crisis budget".
Former Defence Secretary John Reid will also appear before the inquiry. The effects of cuts were "long term", rather than damaging in Iraq, he added.
On his previous appearance, in December, Sir Kevin said the UK was "cautious" in its approach to military planning and timescales because its policy was to go via the United Nations in forcing Saddam Hussein to disarm. Former Defence Secretary John Reid is also appearing before the inquiry.
Equipment concerns 'Very major savings'
He said the government was insisting right up to the last minute that it needed parliamentary approval for committing troops, saying: "It [UK participation] was not agreed until right at the end even though there would be serious consequences for not proceeding." The US-led coalition launched the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.
During his evidence, Sir Kevin said that 2002, when planning for some sort of military action was under way, had seen a "very good settlement" for the MoD.
But he added: "In the December of 2003, the chancellor of the day instituted a complete guillotine on our settlement, and we were, from then on, controlled by cash rather than resources...
"It meant that we had to go in for a very major savings exercise."
But the settlement of 2004 resulted in "almost £4bn of extra cash"
This agreement had been reached "at about 10 at night by the chancellor, the defence secretary and myself - about six hours before the whole public spending settlement was published", Sir Kevin said.
He added: "I think it's fair to say that the Treasury as a whole didn't want us to get as much as we got."
"The final settlement in 2004 was a normal, hard negotiation... The guillotine that came in 2003 was an arbitrary issue."
Sir Kevin said: "That would not have made an effect on Iraq or Afghanistan... but [would have involved] a longer-term restructuring of the defence programme."
'Cautious'
He added: "I was running... a crisis budget rather than one with a sufficient resource for the long term."
At his previous hearing, in December, Sir Kevin called the UK's planning for the conflict "cautious".
Several witnesses have told the inquiry that preparations for a long campaign, including equipment provision, were inadequate.Several witnesses have told the inquiry that preparations for a long campaign, including equipment provision, were inadequate.
Last week, former Prime Minister Tony Blair told the inquiry that planning for the immediate aftermath of the initial military campaign had not been "cavalier".Last week, former Prime Minister Tony Blair told the inquiry that planning for the immediate aftermath of the initial military campaign had not been "cavalier".
He also said that, towards the end of October 2002, the then Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon had urged him to discuss planning in more detail.He also said that, towards the end of October 2002, the then Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon had urged him to discuss planning in more detail.
But most of these discussions had to be "under the radar" to avoid the suspicion that was was inevitable, he added.But most of these discussions had to be "under the radar" to avoid the suspicion that was was inevitable, he added.
The Iraq inquiry is looking at the UK's role in the build-up, conduct and aftermath of the Iraq war. It is expected to report next year. The Iraq inquiry is looking at the UK's role in the build-up, conduct and aftermath of the Iraq war, in which 179 service personnel died. It is expected to report next year.