Baroness Amos

Baroness Amos, the leader of the House of Lords, has been put forward for the position of head of the UN development programme.

The position is the third most senior in the United Nations. It has been vacated by fellow Briton Mark Malloch Brown, who has been appointed chief of staff to UN secretary general Kofi Annan.

It was reported that Tony Blair nominated the peer for the role, viewing her as "a very strong candidate".

"Valerie Amos has an excellent blend of political, diplomatic, and leadership skills and an impressive track record in government," a Number 10 spokesman said.

"From her time as secretary of state for international development, she has great experience of development issues and is well-known and respected throughout the international community."

Baroness Amos was created a life peer in August 1997 and was appointed Lords leader following the death of Lord Williams of Mostyn in October 2003.

The successful candidate for the new role - based in New York - would be expected to champion the UN's millennium development goals to halve extreme poverty by 2015.

A decision is expected to be announced by the end of March.