Geoff Hoon to Lord Hutton

Geoff Hoon, Secretary of State for Defence:

"I knew from the outset, for example, that Dr Kelly had some distinctive views about whether Saddam Hussein's regime was still manufacturing weapons of mass destruction. He judged there was only a 35 per cent likelihood that was the case. That was a distinctive view that had been recognised by a colleague, which prompted him to come forward in the first place. Yes, I was aware that his views were not entirely consistent with those that, for example, had appeared in the dossier that had been published in September."

Geoff Hoon, Defence Minister, HM Government, to Lord Hutton on Monday September 22 2003.

http://www.the-hutton-inquiry.org.uk/content/transcripts/hearing-trans39.htm