The Hutton Report: Key points

Was the September Dossier "sexed-up"? 

Lord Hutton said the BBC claim that the government knew that the 45-minute claim was false was "unfounded". 

"The allegation in the broadcast that the government probably knew that the 45 minutes figure was wrong even before it decided to put it in was a very grave allegation which attacked the integrity of the government and the integrity of the Joint Intelligence Committee and gave rise to a major controversy which dominated the headlines for many days." 

Did the BBC mishandle Andrew Gilligan's story?

Yes. 

"I consider that the editorial system which the BBC permitted was defective in that Mr. Gilligan was allowed to broadcast his report at 6:07 am without editors having seen his script of what he was going to stay and having considered whether it should be approved." 

"The governors should have made more detailed investigation of Gilligan's notes."  

Lord Hutton said it was not possible to reach a conclusion about what Kelly said to Gilligan. But Mr. Hutton said he was satisfied Kelly had not told him the government probably knew or suspected the 45 minute claim was wrong when it drew up the dossier. 

Did No. 10 and the Ministry of Defense mishandle the naming of  David Kelly? 

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Lord Hutton said there was no "underhand" Government strategy to "out" Dr. Kelly. 

Hutton said the Ministry of Defense press office "did not volunteer Dr. Kelly's name" as the source for the BBC story who had come forward. But he added that they were working from a brief that allowed them to confirm the name if it was put to them, which the Ministry of Defense director of news Pam Teare did to the Financial Times at 5:30 pm on Wednesday July 9.  

To what extent was David Kelly responsible for his own death? 

Lord Hutton said he was satisfied Dr. Kelly committed suicide. 

He said no third party could have forseen Kelly's suicide. 

"Whatever pressures and strains Dr. Kelly was subject to by the decisions and actions taken in the weeks before his death, I am satisfied that no one realised or should have realised that these pressures and strains might have driven him to take his own life or contribute to his decision to do so."