This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7488971.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Top spy seriously ill in hospital | Top spy seriously ill in hospital |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Britain's top spy, Alex Allan, the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, is unconscious and seriously ill in hospital. | Britain's top spy, Alex Allan, the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, is unconscious and seriously ill in hospital. |
| The 57-year-old collapsed at his home earlier this week. Government sources say that there is no sign of foul play. | |
| BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera understands that there is no police involvement or concern over the reason for his condition. | |
| Mr Allan's artist wife, Katie Clemson, died from cancer last November. | Mr Allan's artist wife, Katie Clemson, died from cancer last November. |
| The Metropolitan Police said: "We were made aware of a man in his late 50s who was taken to a London hospital after being taken ill at his home address. | The Metropolitan Police said: "We were made aware of a man in his late 50s who was taken to a London hospital after being taken ill at his home address. |
| "He remains in a serious condition. This is being treated as non-suspicious." | "He remains in a serious condition. This is being treated as non-suspicious." |
| The Joint Intelligence Committee is responsible for briefing ministers andofficials with intelligence assessments on issues such as security, defence and foreign affairs. | |
| Mr Allan was a civil servant who worked mainly in the Treasury, before becoming principal private secretary to both John Major and Tony Blair when they were prime minister. | Mr Allan was a civil servant who worked mainly in the Treasury, before becoming principal private secretary to both John Major and Tony Blair when they were prime minister. |
| He took the post of high commissioner to Australia in 1997. | He took the post of high commissioner to Australia in 1997. |
| In 1999 he became e-envoy for the government, co-ordinating policy on e-commerce among different ministries and departments, before leaving that post and moving back to Australia a year later. | In 1999 he became e-envoy for the government, co-ordinating policy on e-commerce among different ministries and departments, before leaving that post and moving back to Australia a year later. |
| He returned to the UK in 2004. | He returned to the UK in 2004. |
| Downing Street announced his appointment as the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee and Head of Intelligence Assessment late last year. |