Head of MI6 announces reshuffle in intelligence

Published on Wednesday 12 January 2005 11:54

THE Government confirmed today a major reshuffle at the head of Britain’s MI6 secret service in the wake of the fiasco over the dossier on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.

A senior spy has been put in charge of checking the reliability of all intelligence supplied to ministers and departments and a senior business figure has been brought in to improve efficiency and value for money.

The move by the head of MI6 John Scarlett (known as C) is aimed to address criticisms made by Lord Butler of Brockwell in his report on how the infamous dossier which claimed Saddam Hussein could release weapons of mass destruction at British forces within 45 minutes came to be drawn up.

Lord Butler said there were clearly failures in the case of the intelligence that informed the dossier.

Now Mr Scarlett - who as Head of the Joint Intelligence Committee drew up the dossier - has acted.

The businessman will provide management expertise to improve efficiency and value for money as "non-executive director".

The private sector high flyer will try to ensure that spies gather secret information as efficiently and effectively as possible.

And a senior officer has been appointed as Head of Requirements in charge of quality control over intelligence information.

The two new appointments will be on a par with the four regional directors of MI6 on a level just below Mr Scarlett.

• AN Algerian man accused of being part of a terror plot to blow up Princes Street at the height of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations has won his battle against deportation.

All criminal charges against Fouad Lasnami, one of nine men arrested in December 2003, were dropped, but he feared he could be imprisoned, tortured or executed if sent home.

Now he has won his test case against the Home Office on human rights grounds.