LONDON ? Britain's departed defense minister Liam Fox breached rules by allowing a personal friend access to meetings and overseas visits, a report by the country's top civil servant ruled Tuesday.
Fox stepped down as defense secretary on Friday amid scrutiny of the role of Adam Werritty, who posed as an aide, arranged private meetings and joined at least 18 trips overseas, mingling with dignitaries and military chiefs.
In his report, Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell concluded that Fox had broken rules on conflict of interest, but had not profited personally from his friendship with Werritty.
"The evidence in this report supports the conclusion of a clear breach of the ministerial code," O'Donnell wrote. "This was a failure of judgment on his part for which he has taken the ultimate responsibility in resigning office."
Fox said he welcomed the fact O'Donnell had confirmed national security had not been compromised, and that he had made no financial gain from his dealings with Werritty.
"I am pleased that the report makes clear that the two most serious allegations, namely of any financial gain sought, expected or received by myself, and any breach of national security, have no basis," Fox said in a statement.
O'Donnell said evidence showed that Werritty had distributed businesses cards describing himself as an aide to Fox, and confirmed that it hadn't always been made clear that he held no official role with Fox or the defense ministry.
"Fox's close and visible association with Mr. Werritty in the U.K. and overseas, and the latter's use of business cards portraying himself as an adviser ... risked creating the impression that Mr. Werritty spoke on behalf of the U.K. government," O'Donnell said.
Opposition lawmakers had raised concerns that Werritty may have used his access to Fox to win influence or gain valuable contracts for his backers.
Werritty was funded, at least in part, by a not-for-profit organization called Pargav, which he told the inquiry supported his work in the Middle East. O'Donnell confirmed that some of those who donated to Pargav had previously provided funding either to Fox, or to the governing Conservative Party.
The report said there was no evidence that Werritty had lobbied Fox on behalf of clients, but said the fact that Fox had introduced his friend to one of his backers could "be seen as giving rise to the perception of a conflict of interest."
O'Donnell said Fox had been wrong to allow Werritty to organize a meeting in Dubai with a prospective supplier at which ministry aides were not present ? a usual requirement under government rules. O'Donnell said ministry staff should also have been involved in a meeting in Tel Aviv in February with senior Israeli officials.
Werritty should have not attended a meeting in September 2010 with Britain's incoming ambassador to Israel on "international defense and security matters," O'Donnell wrote.
Britain's defense ministry confirmed on Tuesday that Werritty also held meetings with two junior defense ministers.
In Washington, Pentagon press secretary George Little said Tuesday that Werritty had also attended a March 2010 meeting between Fox and then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
At the time, Fox was the opposition Conservative Party spokesman on defense.
"I can confirm that a courtesy call occurred with former Secretary Gates," Little said in an email. "It was a purely unclassified discussion."
Werritty also joined in a steakhouse dinner in July 2010 in Tampa, Florida, with Fox and Lt. Gen. John R. Allen ? now the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan.
O'Donnell recommended changes to the way ministers handle foreign visits and called for tighter controls on information about travel schedules.
Werritty had met with Fox on at least 40 occasions since the lawmaker took his post in May 2010, when Britain's current Conservative-led coalition government was established.
Prime Minister David Cameron's office said the British leader accepted the findings of the report and agreed that Fox had broken the ministerial code.
Cameron appointed Philip Hammond, previously Britain's transport secretary, to replace Fox in charge of defense.
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Associated Press Writer Pauline Jelinek in Washington contributed to this report
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