More about the panel and Q's?

The inquiry panel includes
- war historian Sir Martin Gilbert
- historian of recent conflicts and strageic analyst Sir Lawrence Freedman
- Chairman of the Joint Human Rights Committee Baroness Usha Prashar
- former British Ambassador to Moscow Sir Roderic Lyne.

Experience
Some of the members have previously commented on the war and none of them have military or governmental experience. MP William Hague said he sees potential problems with that because "much of the inquiry's scope will be either military in nature" or it will examine "decision making processes at the highest level of government".

But Michael Codner the Director of Military Sciences at RUSI said it would be difficult to be find the right military person because those who would have the requisite experience and expertise to carry out such an investigation have been "heavily embroiled in criticising the government". He felt that having historians is useful because it will help put the issues into a broader context.

Expertise
There have been concerns raised about the lack of legal expertise on the panel. Professor Nick Grief said, "I would have liked to see the inquiry chaired by someone like Lord Bingham, the retired law lord".

He said the legal aspect is crucial because no inquiry has yet come to any conclusion about the legality of the war.But the panel will have experts to advise them and Sir John has already started identifying people who he feels have the requisite knowledge to assist them in their investigation.