To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking at the United Nations to support the initiative announced by the Prime Minister on 21 January to include India as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. (182053)

The UK is a long-standing supporter of India's candidacy for permanent membership of the UN Security Council. We also support Brazilian, German, Japanese and African permanent representation.

The eventual size and form of an enlarged Security Council requires agreement from the UN membership, as set out in the charter of the UN. The UK has consistently championed the need for a reformed Council to represent emerging powers in the modern world. The UK continues to engage actively in debate over Security Council reform both in New York and with UN partners world-wide, and we have voiced our support for initiatives by the President of the General Assembly to drive forward the reform process.