Geoff Hoon has been called to give evidence at the inquest into the death of a tank commander who died of chest wounds after being ordered to hand his body armour to another soldier because there was a shortage of armour that would have saved his life.

The former defence secretary will be asked to explain why he delayed a decision to order more armour before the start of the Iraq war in 2003.

Sergeant Steven Roberts, 33, of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, died in friendly fire four days after the invasion.

Oxford Coroner’s Court was told during the inquest that Mr Hoon took eight weeks to authorise the ordering of extra body armour for soldiers to be sent to Iraq. Sufficient stocks were supplied a week after Sergeant Roberts had died. The Ministry of Defence confirmed last night that Mr Hoon, or an official representing him, was expected to attend the inquest.

James Rowley, QC, acting for Samantha Roberts, Sergeant Roberts’s widow, said that questions raised about the delay in ordering the armour had not been answered. “There is an obvious person to ask,” he told Andrew Walker, the Oxfordshire assistant deputy coroner. Mr Walker replied: “There is always the possibility of a summons.”

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