Post by Jack on Jul 4, 2008 8:00:01 GMT
Source: BBC
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.
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."
The Joint Intelligence Committee is responsible for briefing ministers and officials 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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
The Joint Intelligence Committee is responsible for briefing ministers and officials 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.
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.
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.
