Lord Hutton is to publish his report into the death of David Kelly on January 28, he has announced today.

The Government and other parties affected by the inquiry will receive the report 24 hours before publication, in order to prepare their responses.

A spokesperson for the inquiry said those receiving advance copies will have to sign an undertaking "not to reveal the contents of the report".

The Hutton Inquiry investigated the death of former UN weapons inspector Dr Kelly, after he was found dead in woods near his Oxfordshire home, apparently from knife wounds on his wrists.

Dr Kelly's name had been confirmed to journalists by the MoD as the government employee who had admitted speaking to BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan.

Mr Gilligan stirred controversy over the Iraq war when he claimed, on the BBC's Today Programme, that Alistair Campbell was responsible for 'sexing up' a Government dossier on Iraq's secret weapons of mass destruction - a claim Mr Campbell strenuously denies.

Speculation has been growing that the MoD and BBC may come in for criticism in the report over internal procedures as the scandal over the 'sexed up' dossier grew.

Conservative leader Michael Howard has pressed Tony Blair repeatedly during Prime Minister's questions over whether the PM approved the naming of David Kelly.

Mr Blair maintains he stands by 'the entirety' of what he said during the Kelly inquiry - where he asserted he had had no part in naming the former MoD employee.

The report will also be released onto the Internet on the same day as it is published.

A spokesperson for the inquiry said today Lord Hutton will make a statement summarising his report at the Royal Courts of Justice on the day of publication.

The parties to the inquiry are:

  • The Government
  • The BBC
  • Dr Kelly's Family
  • The Speaker's Counsel
  • Andrew Gilligan
  • Susan Watts