I was encouraged by the Prime Minister's statement and the adjournment debate on Iraq and Weapons of Mass Destruction for which the House of Commons was recalled on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister asserted his recognition of the over-riding supremacy of the United Nations and in his introduction to the Government dossier of evidence against Iraq he wrote: "I believe the international community has to stand up for itself and ensure its authority is upheld".

Diplomacy and preparedness are his watchwords at the moment.

His aims, through diplomacy, are to make sure existing United Nations Security Council resolutions are enforced, and a new resolution is formulated.

Members welcomed the Prime Minister's optimism that the UN will agree to action to enforce their resolutions if Iraq continues to prevaricate.

Existing Security Council resolutions are helpfully listed in the Government dossier which otherwise confirms what I think most of us suspected about the Iraqi leader's previous deeds and future aims and capability.

The Foreign Secretary said clearly he was aiming for a peaceful resolution and he promised that action by the UK would be within international law. He told us the Secretary General of the UN recognises diplomacy has to be backed by the very real threat of force.

An equally important issue was mentioned frequently and that was the Middle East crisis in Israel and Palestine.

The vital importance of resolution of this crisis in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions was recognised as of equal importance.

As the motion before the House was only that it should adjourn at the end of the debate, Tam Dalyell, the Father of the House, proposed a substantive motion that would have allowed members to vote whether to take military action or not.

The Speaker did not allow this, but Mr Dalyell's motion did not preclude military action altogether, but tried to ensure that it would only be taken with full UN backing.

As this aim was confirmed by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, I did not regard this proposition as essential.

During questions on his statement, the Prime Minister was asked whether the House of Commons would be allowed a vote on the issue before British troops were committed to action in Iraq.

He did not give the absolute promise that members would have liked, but only an implication that there would be a vote!

To me this is the issue that is going to test the resolve and function of the UN to the hilt.

I just hope it will be given the multi-national backing to ensure its survival as a respected and effective "policeman" of world affairs.