British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw insisted today that embattled Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon had the backing of the Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair and the Cabinet.
After Mr Hoon was criticised in a report by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), Mr Straw said: "I am in no doubt that the Defence Secretary should and will continue in his post."
Mr Straw said the Prime Minister and the Cabinet had "every confidence" in Mr Hoon.
He said the government was "grateful" for the ISC's work and added that Mr Hoon would respond to the report during today's defence debate in Parliament.
He said the committee had concluded that the dossier was based on JIC assessments and was not "sexed up", and that the JIC's independence and impartiality were not compromised.
The government would respond formally later this year once Lord Hutton had published his report, the Mr Straw said.
Opposition Tory leader Mr Iain Duncan Smith said it was clear that Mr Hoon should resign after today's critical Parliamentary inquiry report.
He said: "It is absolutely clear that Geoff Hoon's position is quite untenable.
"Either he should resign or the Prime Minister should dismiss him at once.
"I think this report is a damning report of the Secretary of State. The committee has accused him of misleading and withholding information."
He went on: "My concern right now is that we have troops in Iraq whose lives are at risk under the authority of the Secretary of State.
"His career is hanging in the wind and it is an untenable position.
"Geoff Hoon has got to go, I'm afraid."
PA