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Iraq Inquiry: MPs question Chilcot over report delays Iraq Inquiry: Chilcot rejects calls for report timetable
(35 minutes later)
The head of the official inquiry into the Iraq War is being questioned about its progress by MPs, amid anger that its report will not be published before the general election. The head of the official inquiry into the Iraq War has told MPs he hopes its final report will be published "as soon as possible" but rejected calls to set out a timetable for publication.
Sir John Chilcot said he had "under-estimated" the time it would take to examine 150,000 documents.
The inquiry had a "conscious duty" to get "access to the truth", he told MPs.
He also informed MPs one of the panel members, historian Martin Gilbert, had died following a long illness.
It is the first time Sir John Chilcot has been cross-examined about his work since the inquiry began in 2009.It is the first time Sir John Chilcot has been cross-examined about his work since the inquiry began in 2009.
He has said he will not be drawn on the substance of the inquiry or a date for publication, citing confidentiality. Appearing before the the Foreign Affairs Committee, Sir John repeated his opinion that there was no "realistic prospect" of it being released before the election on 7 May.
But MPs said he needed to set out "the reasons for the delays" to the report. 'Unprecedented'
Sir John's appearance before the Foreign Affairs Committee is scheduled to start at 10:00 GMT and is expected to last about two hours. He told MPs that the inquiry was "unprecedented in scope" and there had been protracted negotiations with the government over the release of classified documents.
Last month he said there was no "realistic prospect" of the report being released before the election on 7 May. He said the process by which those likely to be criticised in the report are invited to respond had begun later than planned in the autumn.
This is despite the inquiry holding its last public hearing in 2011. Until that process was complete, he said he would not be "able to say anything useful" about when the report would be published.
"What I am determined to do is to get the report to the prime minister and out as soon as we can," he said.
He said he would not be prevented from publishing the report because of the looming general election.
'Timeframe''Timeframe'
The inquiry is considering how UK forces came to participate in the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and its aftermath, which saw UK troops remain in the country until 2009.The inquiry is considering how UK forces came to participate in the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and its aftermath, which saw UK troops remain in the country until 2009.
In a Commons debate last week, MPs from all sides called for continued delays to the report to be explained.In a Commons debate last week, MPs from all sides called for continued delays to the report to be explained.
The cross-party committee, chaired by Conservative MP Sir Richard Ottaway, has said it will focus its questions on "the preparation of his report" - which is expected to be more than a million words long - and on the "obstacles which remain before he can submit it to the prime minister".The cross-party committee, chaired by Conservative MP Sir Richard Ottaway, has said it will focus its questions on "the preparation of his report" - which is expected to be more than a million words long - and on the "obstacles which remain before he can submit it to the prime minister".
"This is an opportunity for Sir John Chilcot to set out the reasons for the delay," Sir Richard told Radio 4's Today programme."This is an opportunity for Sir John Chilcot to set out the reasons for the delay," Sir Richard told Radio 4's Today programme.
"We want him to have a look at the overall timeframe he has been operating under or not been operating under. We want to pose some questions to him about the evidence and the publication of evidence.""We want him to have a look at the overall timeframe he has been operating under or not been operating under. We want to pose some questions to him about the evidence and the publication of evidence."
Asked whether he would give Sir John a "hard time", Sir Richard said the session would be "dignified but focused".Asked whether he would give Sir John a "hard time", Sir Richard said the session would be "dignified but focused".
But Sir John has said he will be "constrained" in what he can say and will not:But Sir John has said he will be "constrained" in what he can say and will not:
In a statement last month, he said the inquiry had taken longer than he and his other panel members had expected but he would not be giving a "running commentary".In a statement last month, he said the inquiry had taken longer than he and his other panel members had expected but he would not be giving a "running commentary".
"We are conscious of our responsibility - to the public and to all those whose lives have been deeply affected by the events we are examining - to discharge our duty thoroughly, impartially and fairly.""We are conscious of our responsibility - to the public and to all those whose lives have been deeply affected by the events we are examining - to discharge our duty thoroughly, impartially and fairly."
'Deserve answers''Deserve answers'
Ministers say they are frustrated by the delays but cannot intervene because it is an independent inquiry.Ministers say they are frustrated by the delays but cannot intervene because it is an independent inquiry.
But Conservative backbencher David Davis suggested that the Civil Service, which has the final say over which documents relating to Iraq can be published, was partly to blame.But Conservative backbencher David Davis suggested that the Civil Service, which has the final say over which documents relating to Iraq can be published, was partly to blame.
"The Sir Humphrey Mafia are being difficult," he told Today. "They have an interest in keeping secrets.""The Sir Humphrey Mafia are being difficult," he told Today. "They have an interest in keeping secrets."
And Lib Dem MP Tim Farron said it was "appalling" that the families of the 179 British personnel who died in Iraq between 2003 and 2009 had had to wait so long to find out why Britain had gone to war.And Lib Dem MP Tim Farron said it was "appalling" that the families of the 179 British personnel who died in Iraq between 2003 and 2009 had had to wait so long to find out why Britain had gone to war.
"This country deserves answers," he told the BBC News Channel. "The people who lost loved ones in Iraq deserve answers.""This country deserves answers," he told the BBC News Channel. "The people who lost loved ones in Iraq deserve answers."