3 September 2002

Tony Blair announces publication of dossier

5 September 2002

45 minute claim appears in draft JIC assessment but not first re-draft of dossier wmd section, although it did include other "recent intelligence" from JIC assessment.

First planning meeting, chaired by Alastair Campbell, attended John Scarlett and John Williams. No minutes but email from Campbell shows that it was agreed that "complete rewrite" would be produced, with Scarlett and his deputy Julian Miller "in charge".

Williams already rewriting "capping piece", i.e. dossier foreword.

6 September 2002

Second re-draft of wmd section of the dossier. Again no reference to the 45 minute claim. This document can be dated by the covering note when it was sent to No. 10.

Williams emails a note to Campbell, offering to rewrite dossier after Scarlett. Offers Foreign Office press officer Mark Matthews who "has a very good eye for the kind of material which works with the media".

9 September 2002 am

Campbell chairs various meetings. At first a "one on one" (Section 19) with Scarlett, who later claims he wants to have his "ownnership" of the dossier established and "written down" (Sections 56-57). Then a wider meeting or meetings, attended by , amongst others, "three very senior SIS officers" and Williams (Section 189).

After the meeting, Campbell issues a minute – again no minutes have been released.

9 September 2002 pm

2pm

Drafting meeting for the first draft, attended by Williams and according to Scarlett (Section 145) Daniel Pruce.

JIC assessment containing 45 minutes claim issued (Section 135) and discussed at drafting meeting (Para 77).

After Drafting meeting

45 minutes claim added to dossier "immediately after" issuing of JIC assessment (Section 148).

John Williams circulates his own draft of the full dossier

10 September 2002

At 12:25 Pruce sends email to Mark Matthews with "quick thoughts on John’s Draft of 9 September".

John Williams goes to US with Jack Straw.

Sometime after 6pm, Scarlett sends draft of dossier to Campbell. Contains 45 minutes claim. Scarlett states that it "has been significantly recast with considerable help from John Williams", who will continue to look at the text and offer advice.

11 September 2002

Pruce sends further email with comments on "DRAFT DOSSIER (J SCARLETT VERSION OF 10 SEPT)", which he calls "this latest draft". Various spin doctors from No. 10 comment. One says: "Think we're in a lot of trouble with this as it stands now."

In the afternoon the JIC meets but does not "discuss the detail of the dossier" (Section 62)

In the evening Scarlett attends a meeting in Campbell’s office, attended by same spin doctors, who give views (Section 60) expressed in that day's emails.

11-16 September 2002

Comments on dossier sent by various officials and ministers within government, some or all of which are referred to in Intelligence and Security Committee report (Paras 73,75). Not supplied to Hutton Inquiry. Cabinet Office refusing to release comments or disclose identities of individuals or departments concerned.

12 September 2002

Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS) send several pages of comments (Sections19/20) on 10/11 September draft to JIC assessment staff.

Julian Miller emails No. 10 offering to show "the latest thinking on dossier tomorrow". Text redacted from document given to Hutton inquiry is "clearly John will be speaking to US".

SIS/MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove briefs Blair on new intelligence, later said to justify claim of ongoing wmd production. Tells Blair "source remained unproven" (Butler Review, Para 578). Agrees with Campbell (Section 41) that intelligence can be used "through assertion".

13 September 2002

Campbell meets Miller as requested and is shown new draft of dossier (Sections 41, 42).

15 September 2002

New draft of dossier produced. Defence Intelligence Staff may well have commented (Section 154) on this.

16 September 2002

Scarlett sends new draft to JIC members.

17 September 2002

"16 September" draft dossier sent to Downing Street.

Defence Intelligence Staff send memorandum with comments on this draft, apparently carrying forward heading from earlier memorandum.

Second Drafting meeting. Williams attends (Section 189), as does Pruce (Section 145) and possibly others. Meeting discusses DIS complaint that 45 minutes claim is too strong (Section 99). Pruce later reports back to No. 10

Campbell requests various changes, including strengthening one of the appearances of 45 minute claim.

Scarlett sends No 10 new draft of dossier. Not supplied to Hutton.

18 September 2002

JIC does not discuss text of dossier (Section 23) as new draft is being prepared.

Scarlett obliges Campbell by tightening up some of the dossier's language but retains paragraph (18) on nuclear timings, "which factually summaries the JIC position".

Campbell bombards Scarlett with requests to rewrite nuclear section.

19 September 2002

Campbell sends Scarlett further request to rewrite nuclear section with request for single paragraph and fabricated JIC judgement about timings.

Scarlett circulates Penultimate draft to Campbell and JIC members with nuclear section rewritten (almost) as requested by Campbell. Sets 3pm deadline for comments from JIC members.

DIS sends 3 page memorandum with comments on draft.

Campbell requests further changes to dossier, including request for new fabricated judgement that Saddam will use wmd against Shia to be added to the executive summary.

Jonathan Powell asks for dossier to be rewritten to remove implication "that there is no CBW threat and we will only create one if we attack him".

20 September 2002

Final draft with implication removed that Saddam will only use wmd if attacked and fabricated judgement about Shia added.

24 September 2002

Blair presents dossier to parliament. Claims that it represents disclosure of JIC assessments.