[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] . . me minister is here to give evidence to the iraq inquiry. this is coverage from london. and the committee takes place in the months leading up to a general election. from the time that we began our work last july we have been at pains to preserve the absolute impartiality in the independence of the iraq inquiry. we have been clear from the outset that we had to remain outside party politics and we have asked the political parties to respect that position and we repeat that request today. it was for that reason that before christmas my colleagues and i originally decided that we should ask to see the prime minister, the foreign secretary and development secretary after the general election. on the 19th of january, the prime minister wrote to me reiterating he was prepared to give evidence whenever the committee saw fit. we discussed this matter and concluded that in the interest of fairness we should offer their prime m