Tony Blair has been challenged to "put the record straight" about exactly when, and what, he was told about the events surrounding the resignation of former Welsh secretary Ron Davies last week.

Shadow Home Secretary Sir Norman Fowler has written to the prime minister demanding clarification of allegedly contradictory statements given to the media by the prime minister's official spokesman.

The row comes after reports that Downing Street had been informed of Mr Davies' alleged homosexual activities on Clapham Common before he resigned.

According to The Times newspaper, the Home Office had passed on precise details of the incident to Downing Street the morning after it happened - and before Mr Davies had been to see the prime minister to quit.

In his letter, Mr Fowler says: "On 29th October, the Daily Telegraph reported your spokesman as stating that you asked Mr Davies 'all the intelligent questions than an intelligent person would have put' and that there were 'no salient facts in our possession that are not in yours'.

Briefed officials

"However, The Times today reports a Downing Street source stating that you knew specific details of police concerns over Mr Davies' activities on the night he was robbed.

"It also states that the Metropolitan Police briefed senior officials at the Home Office on the details surrounding Mr Davies' activities and that this information was passed on to 10 Downing Street.

"These reports are at variance with the statement from your spokesman above.

"I would be grateful if you could set the record straight about what was known by yourself, the home secretary and senior government officials prior to your meeting with Mr Davies."

Downing Street has confirmed it received a call from the Home Office about the incident before Mr Davies saw Tony Blair to offer his resignation.

Black male

The prime minister's official spokesman said the call came to Mr Blair's private office between 10am and 11am on the Tuesday morning after the incident.

And he insisted the only background disclosed by the Home Office was "that there had been a crime against Ron and it occurred after Ron had been out on Clapham Common and had met a black male".

Officials then contacted the Welsh Office to speak to Mr Davies but he was not there. A message was left asking him to visit the prime minister.

Shortly afterwards Mr Davies telephoned Downing Street and said he wanted to see the prime minister.

The minister had then admitted a "lapse of judgement" but refused to go into exact details. But the prime minister accepted he had admitted enough to warrant his resignation.

Downing Street also disclosed Mr Blair had ordered Cabinet Secretary Sir Richard Wilson to investigate the Davies affair but this was "overtaken by events".