To ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many days the Chilcot Inquiry sat in November and December 2014 and January 2015; and what is the current remuneration per day of the chairman and members, and the numbers and cost of supporting staff and accommodati
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
The Inquiry is independent of Government. The daily payment rates for the Chair and Members of the Inquiry, plus details of the size and cost of the Inquiry’s secretariat and office accommodation, are published on the Inquiry’s website.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who is responsible for deciding the terms of service of the Chair and members of the Chilcot inquiry.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
The Prime Minister of the day appointed the Chair and Committee Members of the Iraq Inquiry. The Cabinet Office, as the sponsor department, is responsible for the terms of service for the Chair and Committee members of the Iraq Inquiry.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what financial or other incentives are in place to ensure that the Chair and members of the Chilcot inquiry complete their work within a reasonable time.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
Members of the Inquiry Committee are paid a daily rate with no bonus incentives. Sir John Chilcot has said that he and his colleagues intend to deliver their report to the Prime Minister as soon as it is possible to do so.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the daily fees paid to the chair and members of the Chilcot inquiry; and on what terms are they paid.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
The Maxwellisation process is a matter for the Inquiry; Sir John Chilcot has described the process as essential and confidential, and to comment further might jeopardise the confidentiality of the process. Once his report is complete, Sir John Chilcot will deliver it to the Prime Minister. It is for Government to publish the report, and once it is delivered we expect to publish without delay.
The daily fees for the Chair and Members of the Inquiry are published on the Inquiry’s website.
Lord Myners · Non-affiliatedAnswering body: Cabinet Office
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which Departments, if any, still have outstanding Maxwellisation points in connection with the Chilcot Inquiry.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
The Maxwellisation process is a matter for the Inquiry; Sir John Chilcot has described the process as essential and confidential, and to comment further might jeopardise the confidentiality of the process. Once his report is complete, Sir John Chilcot will deliver it to the Prime Minister. It is for Government to publish the report, and once it is delivered we expect to publish without delay.
The daily fees for the Chair and Members of the Inquiry are published on the Inquiry’s website.
Lord Truscott · Non-affiliatedAnswering body: Cabinet Office
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will provide a detailed breakdown of the costs of the Chilcot Inquiry to date.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave to Lord West of Spithead on 3 November 2014, Official Report, Column 1425. A detailed breakdown of these costs is available on the Inquiry’s website.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what date the Government has set for the publication of the Chilcot Inquiry report; and if he will make a statement.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
The Iraq Inquiry is independent of Government. Timing of the delivery of its report to the Prime Minister is a matter for the Inquiry.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what remuneration is currently paid per day to each member of the Chilcot Inquiry.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
Members of the Inquiry are paid at the following rates: Chairman - £790 per working day; Committee members - £565 per working day. These rates have not changed since the beginning of the Inquiry.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 15 July (WA 114), what steps they are taking to ensure that the Chilcot inquiry report is published before the General Election.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
The Chairman of the Inquiry is paid £790 per day and the members of his committee £565 per day. The Chairman and members are only paid for days that they work. These figures have not changed since the beginning of the Inquiry. In financial year 2013/14, the Committee and Advisers’ remuneration was £201,100.
I have nothing further to add to my written answer of 15 July 2014.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what daily fees are paid to the chairman and each member of the Chilcot inquiry; for how many days they have been paid; and what has been the total expenditure on the inquiry so far.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
The Chairman of the Inquiry is paid £790 per day and the members of his committee £565 per day. The Chairman and members are only paid for days that they work. These figures have not changed since the beginning of the Inquiry. In financial year 2013/14, the Committee and Advisers’ remuneration was £201,100.
I have nothing further to add to my written answer of 15 July 2014.
Lord Tebbit · ConservativeAnswering body: Cabinet Office
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the comment by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 1 July (HL Deb, col 1709) that he still held the opinion that the Franks inquiry on the Falklands War was not entirely thorough or rigorous, whether in making that comment he was speaking in a personal or ministerial capacity.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
I have recently responded to two debates on the Chilcot Inquiry in my Ministerial capacity. In the course of both, I drew a comparison between the Chilcot Inquiry and the Franks Inquiry, simply to note the information available to the Chairmen of those Inquiries, the significant difference in their scope, including the giving of evidence in public. Both are important Inquiries for the public record, establishing events and learning any lessons. In addition, I offered a personal reflection on the Franks Inquiry [based on my previous work in this area].
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the report of the Chilcot inquiry is likely to be published before the next General Election.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
The Inquiry is independent of Government, and the timing of the delivery of its report to the Prime Minister is a matter for the Inquiry. Sir John Chilcot said in May that it was the Inquiry's intention to do so as soon as possible. Government is doing everything it can to ensure this is possible.
Mr David Amess · ConservativeAnswering body: Prime Minister
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with the (a) Chairman and (b) Secretary of the Chilcot Inquiry on the publication of its report since March 2013; and if he will make a statement.
Government answer
Answering body: Prime Minister
The Iraq Inquiry is independent of government, and should be allowed to complete its work without interference.
Neither I nor Ministers have had any discussions with or made any representations to the Inquiry. Nor have I discussed the Inquiry with President Obama.
The Inquiry has sought the declassification of material for inclusion in its report from many thousands of documents, some of which have been or will be published. Government does not, as a rule, comment on any discussions between officials and the Inquiry.
The Maxwellisation process is a matter for the Inquiry.
The Government remains committed to ensuring that the Inquiry's final report will be able to disclose all but the most sensitive information which will be determined in accordance with the protocol governing the disclosure of documentary evidence which is available through the Inquiry website.
Timing of the delivery of the report to me is a matter for the Inquiry, but it is my hope that the Inquiry can complete its work before the end of the year. Upon publication, copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr David Amess · ConservativeAnswering body: Prime Minister
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Prime Minister, what recent representations (a) he, (b) other Ministers and (c) officials of (i) 10 Downing Street and (ii) the Cabinet Office have made to the (A) Chairman and (B) secretariat of the Chilcot Inquiry on delays in publication of its report due to responses from officials of the US administration; what response was received to these representations; and if he will make a statement.
Government answer
Answering body: Prime Minister
The Iraq Inquiry is independent of government, and should be allowed to complete its work without interference.
Neither I nor Ministers have had any discussions with or made any representations to the Inquiry. Nor have I discussed the Inquiry with President Obama.
The Inquiry has sought the declassification of material for inclusion in its report from many thousands of documents, some of which have been or will be published. Government does not, as a rule, comment on any discussions between officials and the Inquiry.
The Maxwellisation process is a matter for the Inquiry.
The Government remains committed to ensuring that the Inquiry's final report will be able to disclose all but the most sensitive information which will be determined in accordance with the protocol governing the disclosure of documentary evidence which is available through the Inquiry website.
Timing of the delivery of the report to me is a matter for the Inquiry, but it is my hope that the Inquiry can complete its work before the end of the year. Upon publication, copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr David Amess · ConservativeAnswering body: Prime Minister
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Prime Minister, if he will discuss with the administrators of the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war a final date for publication; and if he will make a statement.
Government answer
Answering body: Prime Minister
The Iraq Inquiry is independent of government, and should be allowed to complete its work without interference.
Neither I nor Ministers have had any discussions with or made any representations to the Inquiry. Nor have I discussed the Inquiry with President Obama.
The Inquiry has sought the declassification of material for inclusion in its report from many thousands of documents, some of which have been or will be published. Government does not, as a rule, comment on any discussions between officials and the Inquiry.
The Maxwellisation process is a matter for the Inquiry.
The Government remains committed to ensuring that the Inquiry's final report will be able to disclose all but the most sensitive information which will be determined in accordance with the protocol governing the disclosure of documentary evidence which is available through the Inquiry website.
Timing of the delivery of the report to me is a matter for the Inquiry, but it is my hope that the Inquiry can complete its work before the end of the year. Upon publication, copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr David Amess · ConservativeAnswering body: Prime Minister
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Prime Minister, how many documents provided by the Government to the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war have been declassified; how many such documents he estimates will be declassified within the next six months; and if he will make a statement.
Government answer
Answering body: Prime Minister
The Iraq Inquiry is independent of government, and should be allowed to complete its work without interference.
Neither I nor Ministers have had any discussions with or made any representations to the Inquiry. Nor have I discussed the Inquiry with President Obama.
The Inquiry has sought the declassification of material for inclusion in its report from many thousands of documents, some of which have been or will be published. Government does not, as a rule, comment on any discussions between officials and the Inquiry.
The Maxwellisation process is a matter for the Inquiry.
The Government remains committed to ensuring that the Inquiry's final report will be able to disclose all but the most sensitive information which will be determined in accordance with the protocol governing the disclosure of documentary evidence which is available through the Inquiry website.
Timing of the delivery of the report to me is a matter for the Inquiry, but it is my hope that the Inquiry can complete its work before the end of the year. Upon publication, copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr David Amess · ConservativeAnswering body: Prime Minister
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Prime Minister, if it remains his policy to publish the report of the Chilcot Inquiry in full; and if he will make a statement.
Government answer
Answering body: Prime Minister
The Iraq Inquiry is independent of government, and should be allowed to complete its work without interference.
Neither I nor Ministers have had any discussions with or made any representations to the Inquiry. Nor have I discussed the Inquiry with President Obama.
The Inquiry has sought the declassification of material for inclusion in its report from many thousands of documents, some of which have been or will be published. Government does not, as a rule, comment on any discussions between officials and the Inquiry.
The Maxwellisation process is a matter for the Inquiry.
The Government remains committed to ensuring that the Inquiry's final report will be able to disclose all but the most sensitive information which will be determined in accordance with the protocol governing the disclosure of documentary evidence which is available through the Inquiry website.
Timing of the delivery of the report to me is a matter for the Inquiry, but it is my hope that the Inquiry can complete its work before the end of the year. Upon publication, copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr David Amess · ConservativeAnswering body: Prime Minister
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Prime Minister, what recent discussions he has had with the US President on the publication by the Chilcot Inquiry of conversations between (a) Tony Blair and George W. Bush and (b) the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath and George W. Bush in the period (i) leading up to the conflict in Iraq and (ii) after the invasion of Iraq; what response was received from the President; and if he will make a statement.
Government answer
Answering body: Prime Minister
The Iraq Inquiry is independent of government, and should be allowed to complete its work without interference.
Neither I nor Ministers have had any discussions with or made any representations to the Inquiry. Nor have I discussed the Inquiry with President Obama.
The Inquiry has sought the declassification of material for inclusion in its report from many thousands of documents, some of which have been or will be published. Government does not, as a rule, comment on any discussions between officials and the Inquiry.
The Maxwellisation process is a matter for the Inquiry.
The Government remains committed to ensuring that the Inquiry's final report will be able to disclose all but the most sensitive information which will be determined in accordance with the protocol governing the disclosure of documentary evidence which is available through the Inquiry website.
Timing of the delivery of the report to me is a matter for the Inquiry, but it is my hope that the Inquiry can complete its work before the end of the year. Upon publication, copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr David Amess · ConservativeAnswering body: Prime Minister
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Prime Minister, if he will seek the agreement of the US President to the publication of classified documents by the Chilcot Inquiry; and if he will make a statement.
Government answer
Answering body: Prime Minister
The Iraq Inquiry is independent of government, and should be allowed to complete its work without interference.
Neither I nor Ministers have had any discussions with or made any representations to the Inquiry. Nor have I discussed the Inquiry with President Obama.
The Inquiry has sought the declassification of material for inclusion in its report from many thousands of documents, some of which have been or will be published. Government does not, as a rule, comment on any discussions between officials and the Inquiry.
The Maxwellisation process is a matter for the Inquiry.
The Government remains committed to ensuring that the Inquiry's final report will be able to disclose all but the most sensitive information which will be determined in accordance with the protocol governing the disclosure of documentary evidence which is available through the Inquiry website.
Timing of the delivery of the report to me is a matter for the Inquiry, but it is my hope that the Inquiry can complete its work before the end of the year. Upon publication, copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr David Amess · ConservativeAnswering body: Prime Minister
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Prime Minister, when he expects the report of the Chilcot Inquiry into the war in Iraq to be published; what discussions Sir John Chilcot has had with those expected to be criticised in his report; if he will ensure that hon. Members are provided with a full paper copy of the report and all (a) oral and (b) written evidence that was presented to the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war; and if he will make a statement.
Government answer
Answering body: Prime Minister
The Iraq Inquiry is independent of government, and should be allowed to complete its work without interference.
Neither I nor Ministers have had any discussions with or made any representations to the Inquiry. Nor have I discussed the Inquiry with President Obama.
The Inquiry has sought the declassification of material for inclusion in its report from many thousands of documents, some of which have been or will be published. Government does not, as a rule, comment on any discussions between officials and the Inquiry.
The Maxwellisation process is a matter for the Inquiry.
The Government remains committed to ensuring that the Inquiry's final report will be able to disclose all but the most sensitive information which will be determined in accordance with the protocol governing the disclosure of documentary evidence which is available through the Inquiry website.
Timing of the delivery of the report to me is a matter for the Inquiry, but it is my hope that the Inquiry can complete its work before the end of the year. Upon publication, copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Caroline Lucas · Green PartyAnswering body: Prime Minister
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Prime Minister, on what date and which Minister signed off the decision to give permission to the Chilcot Inquiry to disclose quotations or gists of the content of notes from Tony Blair or records of discussions between the UK Prime Minister and the President of the United States; when detailed consideration of the gists and quotations requested by the Inquiry bagan; how many (a) gists and (b) quotations of Tony Blair are under consideration; whether the publication of any gists or...
Government answer
Answering body: Prime Minister
The Inquiry is completely independent of government and should be allowed to complete its work without interference.
At the outset of the Inquiry, Government and the Inquiry agreed a documents protocol on the handling of information provided to the Inquiry. The protocol names the Cabinet Secretary as final arbiter in discussions about disclosure. He is the right person to perform this role. He is the most senior civil servant and can see papers of a previous government Sir John Chilcot's letter of 28 May describes the background against which the Inquiry made its requests for gists and quotes. Sir John also makes clear that the gists and quotes are sufficient for the Inquiry's purposes.
Sir John Chilcot's letter of 28 May is available on the Iraq Inquiry website and I am placing a copy in the Library of the House.
The Government will not comment further on the extent or detail of the Inquiry's declassification requests. I have made clear my hope that the Inquiry will be able to complete its work by the end of the year.