THE end of proceedings at the Hutton Inquiry is ten days away. The publication of Lord Hutton's findings is a month or two away.

Even though we now know the identity of the witnesses he is to recall, it remains speculative to guess the conclusions he will draw from the evidence presented to him.

However, it is already clear that there are serious lessons to be learned.

Both the BBC and the Government have undergone a somewhat painful examination of their activities. Criticism of them both by Lord Hutton is inevitable.

For its part, the BBC seems prepared for criticism and ready to take it on board.

In his evidence to the inquiry yesterday, the BBC Director General Greg Dyke expressed his regret that the dispute between the Corporation and Downing Street over the Iraq dossier had been allowed to escalate.

And he was candid enough to question the use of anonymous sources and the use of unscripted 'two-way' conversations between journalists and presenters.

We hope that the Secretary of Defence and Downing Street's outgoing director of communications display the same potential for self-criticism when they return to the witness stand over the next few days.

No comfort

WHILE the result of the Swedish referendum has no direct bearing on Britain's future in Europe, the result will exercise the minds of those on opposing sides of the euro debate.

On balance, it is the anti-euro campaigners who have most to cheer from the Swedish vote.

The ballot casts doubt over the theory that a referendum campaign will create the momentum to harness a 'yes' vote. In Sweden, the referendum result was an accurate reflection of previous opinion polls.

Sweden's rejection of the euro also means that at least one European Union member will remain outside the single currency for the foreseeable future.

The threat of economic isolation if we reject the euro cannot be a significant influence in a future British referendum.

With the prospect of a 'no' vote more likely in the wake of the Swedish vote, it is unlikely that the Government will risk a referendum before the next General Election.