Civil Service chief tries to speed up Iraq inquiry

SIR John Chilcot, the Iraq inquiry chairman, has repeatedly refused offers of help to speed up his report, the head of the Civil Service has claimed.

Sir Jeremy Heywood, the Cabinet Secretary, said he could not accelerate the process, insisting he had offered the inquiry extra resources but was told “they don’t need them”.

Sir John told David Cameron last month that he still could not say when the inquiry would report, prompting the Prime Minister to say he was “fast losing patience” over the lack of progress. Appearing before the public administration and constitutional affairs select committee yesterday, Sir Jeremy said: “The timetable is not in my hands. I have repeatedly offered to Sir John extra resources on behalf of the Prime Minister.”

He added that he did not think anybody was deliberately trying to slow down the inquiry, but admitted it should “get its head down and complete its work”.

The inquiry into the Iraq war started in July 2009 but the final report has been held up because of Maxwellisation, where draft criticisms are put to individuals to give them the chance to respond.