Government tightens up intelligence procedures
The procedures through which the Government uses secret intelligence will be tightened up under plans announced today.
The Foreign Secretary Jack Straw unveiled stricter rules on the use of intelligence from MI6 and other agencies, which will aim to avoid a repeat of the intelligence failings in the run-up to the Iraq war.
The move is the Government’s response to a report by Lord Butler into the intelligence used to justify the invasion of Iraq, which criticised Tony Blair for his “sofa” style government.
But Conservative shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Ancram described the acceptance of Lord Butler’s recommendations as “too little too late”.
In a written statement to the House of Commons, Mr Straw said MI6 had developed new procedures to improve the evaluation of intelligence reports and had been given additional funding.
The processes used by the Joint Intelligence Committee, which provides advice to the Government on intelligence, have been “reviewed and tightened up”.
And the Cabinet Office Assessments Staff, which analyses the work of intelligence services for Ministers, will be increased by one-third.
It has also accepted Lord Butler’s recommendation to change Mr Blair’s informal style of government.
Mr Straw said of Lord Butler’s report: “The Government recognised the need to move substantially to implement its conclusions and has done so.”
Michael Ancram said that accepting the recommendations was an admission that Tony Blair’s style of leadership had “undermined integrity and trust in government and the civil service”.
And he said that they avoided the key issue of “accountability”.
“By sneaking this announcement as a written statement rather than making an oral statement in Parliament, where he can be challenged and questioned, he is once again seeking to avoid accountability,” Mr Ancram added.
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Menzies Campbell said the proof would be in implementation. “Accepting Lord Butler’s recommendations is one thing, but implementing them fully is another,” he commented.
“Because of the restraints in the disclosure of intelligence, Parliament and the public have to rely on the competence of the people involved and the integrity of the system. These reforms will only be of any value if they enhance both of these.”
