Iraq Inquiry. Read indexed debates, questions, statements and early day motions, with links to the original parliamentary records.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether representatives from (a) Guinea, (b) Chile, (c) Cameroon, (d) Angola, (e) Bulgaria and (f) Pakistan were called to give evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry.
The Iraq Inquiry was independent of government, and the selection of its witnesses was a matter for the Inquiry. The Inquiry did not seek evidence from representatives of the countries listed.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's timetable is for the publication of a report on the implementation of the recommendations of Sir John Chilcot's Report of the Iraq Inquiry, published on 6 July 2016; and whether progress on that implementation is planned to be announced (a) in instalments or (b) simultaneously for all the recommendations of that report.
The Government responded on 19 December 2017 to a 16 March 2017 Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee report (HC656) on Lessons still to be learned from the Chilcot Inquiry. This included an annex by the National Security Advisor which summarised the lesson learning process undertaken across the National Security Community in response to the Iraq Inquiry. The Ministry of Defence has no plans to publish any further progress reports, though considerable progress has been achieved in responding to the findings of the Iraq Inquiry Report. This includes introduction across the Department of a 'Guide to Reasonable Challenge' to ensure that decision-making is as well informed as possible; training and education on challenge, including at the Defence Academy; publication of a handbook for those involved in operational policy and its implementation ('The Good Operation', available at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-good-operation);
a programme of increased professionalisation for those working in the policy profession; and work to improve the capture and curation of (and access to) knowledge. On 5 July 2018, the MOD is hosting a conference entitled Chilcot Two Years On which will take stock of progress in responding to the Report.
Her Majesty's Government what lessons they have learned from the duration and cost of the Chilcot Inquiry.
A number of lessons about inquiry processes were learned from the Iraq Inquiry, and government has absorbed these so that future inquiries can benefit from the experience. Government has received the report of Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the Iraq Inquiry, and will be responding in due course, setting out the lessons learned.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department has taken to provide similar support for injured veterans of the Iraq conflict following the publication of the Chilcot Report to that provided to the next of kin of people who lost their lives in that conflict.
The report of the Chilcot Inquiry was published on 6 July and is available to access online in searchable format. The Government takes very seriously its responsibility to all military veterans, especially those who have been injured in conflict, and a range of support mechanisms are available to Iraq veterans where required, including support in the transition to civilian life and access to pension and compensation schemes where injured as a result of their service. We will, of course, engage with and support any individuals who are concerned by any findings of Sir John Chilcot’s report.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2016 to Question 38697, what steps his Department has taken to provide injured veterans of the Iraq conflict with free copies of the Chilcot Report.
The report of the Chilcot Inquiry was published on 6 July and is available to access online in searchable format. The Government takes very seriously its responsibility to all military veterans, especially those who have been injured in conflict, and a range of support mechanisms are available to Iraq veterans where required, including support in the transition to civilian life and access to pension and compensation schemes where injured as a result of their service. We will, of course, engage with and support any individuals who are concerned by any findings of Sir John Chilcot’s report.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what support the Government plans to provide to veterans of the Iraq Conflict who are concerned by the findings of the Chilcot Report and its implications for their service records.
The report of the Chilcot Inquiry was published on 6 July and is available to access online in searchable format. The Government takes very seriously its responsibility to all military veterans, especially those who have been injured in conflict, and a range of support mechanisms are available to Iraq veterans where required, including support in the transition to civilian life and access to pension and compensation schemes where injured as a result of their service. We will, of course, engage with and support any individuals who are concerned by any findings of Sir John Chilcot’s report.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the Government's policy is on providing early sight of the Chilcot Inquiry report to injured veterans of the Iraq Conflict.
I refer the Hon Member to my answer to the Hon Member for South West Wiltshire of today to UIN: PQ38695-PQ38697-38695.
To ask the Prime Minister, what recent representations he has made to officials working on the Chilcot Inquiry; and if he will make a statement.
I refer the hon. Member to Sir John Chilcot’s letter to me of 28 October 2015, and my reply of 29 October, copies of which can be found on the Iraq Inquiry website.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bridges of Headley on 11 January (HL4782), what assessment they have made of the terms of reference, composition, duration and cost of the Chilcot inquiry.
The Chilcot Inquiry was set up by the Labour Government following consultation with other political parties and with the support of Parliament. The Government looks forward to the publication of the Inquiry’s report in June or July, in accordance with Sir John Chilcot’s most recent letter to the Prime Minister.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bridges of Headley on 11 January (HL4782) whether they have any plans to cap or curtail the Chilcot Inquiry’s expenses or costs before it reports.
No.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the current weekly costs of the Chilcot Inquiry.
The Iraq Inquiry, which is independent of Government, publishes its annual costs after the end of each financial year. The Inquiry’s costs for FY 2014/15 were £1,358,500, providing an average weekly cost in the last financial year of £26,125.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bridges of Headley on 21 September (HL2088), what part of the total remuneration paid to members of the Chilcot Inquiry has been paid to Sir John Chilcot in both attendance allowances
The Inquiry will account for its costs after the completion of its report.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the (a) costs and (b) fees incurred have been of the Chilcot Inquiry in each year to date since the setting up of that inquiry.
An itemised year-by-year breakdown of the Inquiry’s costs can be found on the Inquiry’s website. (www.iraqinquiry.org.uk)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the Prime Minister's letter to Sir John Chilcot on 17 June, what further steps they are taking to ascertain when the Maxwellisation process of the Chilcot Inquiry is to be completed.
A meeting between Sir Jeremy Heywood and Sir John Chilcot took place in early July. It was a constructive discussion in accordance with the Prime Minister’s letter, during which Sir John and Sir Jeremy discussed the additional assistance the Inquiry will wish to call upon in its closing stages and agreed some steps that can be taken now to assist the inquiry in its work. Sir John has confirmed it is his intention to provide the Prime Minister with a timetable for completion of the Inquiry’s work once the Maxwellisation process, a confidential process between individuals and the Inquiry, is complete.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the Prime Minister's letter to Sir John Chilcot on 17 June, what steps have been taken to arrange a meeting between him and the Cabinet Secretary to discuss the progress of the Chilcot Inquiry; and on what date arrangements for such a meeting were made.
A meeting between Sir Jeremy Heywood and Sir John Chilcot took place in early July. It was a constructive discussion in accordance with the Prime Minister’s letter, during which Sir John and Sir Jeremy discussed the additional assistance the Inquiry will wish to call upon in its closing stages and agreed some steps that can be taken now to assist the inquiry in its work. Sir John has confirmed it is his intention to provide the Prime Minister with a timetable for completion of the Inquiry’s work once the Maxwellisation process, a confidential process between individuals and the Inquiry, is complete.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions Ministers in his Department have had with Sir John Chilcot in the last year.
The Chilcot Inquiry is independent of Government. No current Cabinet Office Ministers have met with Sir John Chilcott or any of his officials since the inquiry began.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times Ministers in his Department have met officials working on the Chilcot Inquiry since that Inquiry commenced.
The Chilcot Inquiry is independent of Government. No current Cabinet Office Ministers have met with Sir John Chilcott or any of his officials since the inquiry began.
To ask the Prime Minister, if he will request from the Chairman of the Chilcot Inquiry a list of the witnesses from whom the inquiry is still waiting for comments on the draft material sent to them; and if he will also request the date in each case when m
The conduct of the "Maxwellisation" process is a matter for the independent Chilcot Inquiry.
To ask the Prime Minister, (a) how many people are being paid from the public purse for their work on the Chilcot inquiry, (b) whether such people are paid by the day, month or year or by the amount of work that they have done and (c) at what rate such pe
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newport West (Mr Flynn) on 3 February 2015, UIN 222484.
To ask the Prime Minister, what information he holds on work undertaken or progress made by the Chilcot Inquiry since January 2015; whether that inquiry (a) has received or (b) will receive public funds in respect of the period from January to June 2015;
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave it him on 9 June 2015, UIN 1272.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they expect the report of the Chilcot Inquiry to be published before the summer recess; and, if not, why not.
Sir John Chilcot and the Prime Minister exchanged letters on 15 and 17 January . In his letters, Sir John said that once the essential Maxwellisation process was complete, it was his intention to provide the Prime Minister with a timetable for the completion of the Inquiry’s report.
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2015 to Question 556 on the Chilcot inquiry, whether he has received any information or updates (a) regarding the inquiry since his statements at Prime Minister's Questions on 21 January 2015 and
I have nothing further to add.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date he expects the report of the Chilcot inquiry to be published.
I refer the hon. Member to answer given by My Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister on 4 June 2015 to UIN 556.
To ask the Prime Minister, if he will provide an update on the progress of the Chilcot inquiry; and when he expects the Maxwellisation process to be completed.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the former Member for Louth and Horncastle (Sir Peter Tapsell) and the former Member for Croydon South (Sir Richard Ottaway) at Prime Minister’s Questions on 21 January 2015, Official Report, columns 210-212.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Chairman of the Chilcot Inquiry regarding the early publication of the final report.
I refer the Noble Lord to the exchange of letters between the Prime Minister and Sir John Chilcot from January 2015 regarding the progress of the Inquiry. I have attached a copy for reference.