§ Llew SmithTo ask the Prime Minister when he was first informed of the covert nuclear proliferation activities of Abdul Qadir Khan, to which he made reference in his speech on global security issues on 5 March. [161753]
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell), on 1 March 2004,Official Report, column 757W.
§ Llew SmithTo ask the Prime Minister whether he has discussed with the other four permanent members of the United Nations Security Council the proposals for reform of the role of the United Nations set out in his speech on global security threats in Sedgefield on 5 March. [161754]
§ The Prime MinisterMy discussions with the leaders of other permanent Members of the Security Council regularly deal with the need for effective collective action to address all threats to international peace and security. The Government are a long-standing supporter of reform in this area, for example through the principles I set out in 1999 to clarify the circumstances in which the international community can intervene to avert an overwhelming humanitarian catastrophe. I welcome the UN Secretary-General's decision to set up a High Level Panel to review how the UN can respond more effectively to threats to international peace and security. We will continue to promote this debate in discussions with our partners within and outside the Security Council.