Decision time was preceded by a point of order from Finance Secretary John Swinney, who corrected Tourism Minister Jim Mather on his assertion during the ministerial statement that Mr Swinney had not spoken to VisitScotland chair Dr Mike Cantlay on Sunday 31 May.

BBC: Decision time

Smith later backed away from the assertion, saying in a written statement that no member of Congress had made any offer of financial assistance in exchange for his vote.

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"The committee's assertion that US troops do not exercise precautionary measures is entirely false, " Isaf said in a statement.

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Lord Cormack, a former MP, also backed calls for a statement, telling ministers "there is a fear...that there is an over-assertion of privilege, and that there may be reasons behind that".

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But in a statement issued on Tuesday, BBC chairman Gavyn Davies said that all the governors stood by their earlier assertion that they believed it was in the public interest to broadcast the story about the way the case for war was presented.

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