DEFENCE Secretary Geoff Hoon was memorably accused of "batting away" questions about missile defence in a manner more suited to Geoffrey Boycott.

This week Mr Hoon finally came unstuck - the victim of a wicked piece of "spin". Rather fittingly, the spin was delivered by the Derbyshire born and bred Defence Secretary's very own Ministerial department.

The comparison between Mr Hoon and the Yorkshire cricketer was made by Labour MP Bruce George, chairman of the Commons defence select committee, after hearing Mr Hoon's mantra on 'Son of Star Wars' for the umpteenth time.

He had been seeking a straight answer as to whether the US would be

allowed to use RAF Fylingdales and Menwith Hill for the multi-billion pound project, the cornerstone of President George Bush's national security policy.

What he got was Mr Hoon's favourite straight-batted response. He "understood" US concerns about the threat from rogue states. But he couldn't possibly say if he would allow the North Yorkshire bases to be used because the Americans had made no firm request to do so.

The Boycott tactic was - as ever - dull but effective. It was, however, utterly dependent on every Minister and official holding the "line". One person breaking ranks and saying Britain should back missile defence would remove it from Mr Hoon's armoury and he would have to come clean with what everyone already knows - Bush has the UK's backing.

That has now happened - in a briefing document, leaked to the Evening Press, on the best way to "spin" hacks who ask awkward questions.

The 39-page dossier - marked "restricted" - was prepared ahead of a lunch for journalists and senior MoD officials. The document includes advice to the officials on how to deal with

questions on subjects such as the war in Afghanistan and the shortage of medical staff in the military.

Each page is headed with official "lines to take" followed by the reality of the situation, or "background".

The entry on the state of the army's medical service set out a flavour of what to expect. Officials are told to say measures are being taken to "seek to remedy the high outflow of trained personnel".

In fact, the note points out for "background", the army has an 81 per cent shortfall in surgeons, an 80 per cent shortage of anaesthetists and only five per cent of the nurses it needs who are trained to treat burns victims.

It is the section headed "missile defence" which makes the most

interesting reading, though. The "line to take" is very familiar. It says: "We share the US's concerns about the threat from weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. We understand the role that missile defence systems can play as one element of a strategy to tackle the potential threat."

But the "background" section reveals far more than Mr Hoon has been

letting on. It says, in other words, that 'Son of Star wars' is a damn fine idea after all. It states: "What the 11 September attack shows is that there are those who will seek to threaten, with whatever means are available, the US, its friends and allies. In the future this might include ballistic missiles.

"We AGREE with the US that a comprehensive strategy to tackle ALL these threats is needed."

The spin, it is noted with delicious irony, has been unravelled by a document designed for spinning.

So the next time Mr Hoon faces a difficult delivery from Mr George - or

any other MP - the flat-bat will not be available. He will need a more open stance altogether.

Updated: 12:48 Friday, April 12, 2002