Hutton sets out inquiry aims

The man heading the inquiry into the death of Government scientist David Kelly said today that he would decide the matters that will be investigated.

Announcing his terms of reference, the law lord said he would sit mostly in public and report on his findings as soon as possible.

In a short statement read out at the Department for Constitutional Affairs in London he said: "My terms of reference are these: 'Urgently to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr Kelly'."

He added: "I make it clear that it will be for me to decide as I think right within my terms of reference the matters which will be the subject of my investigation."

Lord Hutton said: "The Government has further stated that it will provide me with the fullest cooperation and that it expects all other authorities and parties to do the same."

He added: "I intend to sit in public in the near future to state how I intend to conduct the inquiry and to consider the extent to which interested parties and bodies should be represented by counsel or solicitors.

"In deciding on the date when I will sit I will obviously wish to take into account the date of Dr Kelly's funeral and the timing of the inquest into his death.

"After that preliminary sitting I intend to conduct the inquiry with expedition and to report as soon as possible. It is also my intention to conduct the inquiry mostly in public.

"I have appointed James Dingemans QC to act as Counsel to the inquiry and Lee Hughes of the Department for Constitutional Affairs will be the secretary to the inquiry."