A WHARFEDALE MP and Cabinet office minister has been thrust into the frontline in Britain's efforts to guard against terrorism.

Shipley MP Chris Leslie has been working on emergency and contingency planning since the attacks in America on September 11.

As Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office, Mr Leslie says he is satisfied that the UK is well-prepared in the event of a terrorist attack.

He said: "The thing to always remember is that we still have no specific threat to the UK as a whole, or any local area.

"I have been working with emergency planning officers, looking thoroughly at plans we have put in place for various different contingencies. I'm convinced they're pretty well worked exercises, and that the emergency services are fully briefed.

"We want to prevent threats coming into the country and protect citizens at a national and local level."

Mr Leslie said a package of legislation to bring in new measures, concerning asylum seekers and other issues, is expected shortly.

Fears over terrorists using germ warfare came to Mr Leslie's own constituency yesterday, when Shipley's postal sorting office was evacuated because of a suspicious package.

Mr Leslie described continuing bombing raids on Afghanistan as 'necessary for the future security of the world'.

He said: "As a minister at the Cabinet office involved with emergency planning, I'm keeping very close track on the international and domestic scene. Military action wasn't entered into lightly by any means.

"The Taliban are not an organisation willing to negotiate, and neither is Osama bin Laden's network. Their goals are mass genocide and the annihilation of Israel.

"It's not the sort of thing you can have a diplomatic front on, really. I think it's important that strong action is taken by a global coalition."

Mr Leslie said the Government was keen to stress that the military action is not an attack on Islam. He denounced bin Laden as 'not a true follower of Islam', saying the religion is peaceful and tolerant.