An MoD spokeswoman said it would be "inappropriate" to comment before Mr Fox made his announcement to parliament.

She said: "The defence secretary asked Lord Philip to conduct a review of the evidence considered by the Board of Inquiry into the Mull of Kintyre Chinook accident.

"An announcement on the report's findings is due to be made to parliament shortly."

• BBC News Scotland 9 Jul 2011 - Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash report 'clears pilots'
• Telegraph 9 Jul 2011 - Pilots 'cleared' over Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash
• BBC News Scotland 8 Jul 2011 - 'Safety failure link' to Chinook and Nimrod crashes
• BBC News Northern Ireland 16 Sep 2010 - Chinook crash review panel announced by government