This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6505025.stm

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Home Office to be split into two Home Office to be split into two
(about 1 hour later)
The Home Office will be split into two separate departments for security and justice, Tony Blair is expected to say. The Home Office will be split into two separate departments for security and justice, Downing Street has said.
The Department for Constitutional Affairs will take control of probation, prisons and prevention of re-offending and be renamed the Ministry of Justice.The Department for Constitutional Affairs will take control of probation, prisons and prevention of re-offending and be renamed the Ministry of Justice.
The slimmed down Home Office will then be left to concentrate on dealing with terrorism, security and immigration.The slimmed down Home Office will then be left to concentrate on dealing with terrorism, security and immigration.
Tories say a split will "compound" problems and have forced the home secretary to face MPs at 1130 BST. Tories say a split will "compound" problems. Downing Street said the split would happen on 9 May.
HOME OFFICE SPLIT Two ministries instead of oneHome Office to refocus on security, policing, counter-terrorism, immigration, borders and ID cardsMinistry of justice for courts, prisons, sentencing policy, probationHOME OFFICE SPLIT Two ministries instead of oneHome Office to refocus on security, policing, counter-terrorism, immigration, borders and ID cardsMinistry of justice for courts, prisons, sentencing policy, probation
The Ministry of Justice could be set up within the next two months. The department is currently run by Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer. Mr Reid's slimmed-down Home Office will absorb counter-terrorism strategy from the Cabinet Office.
Meanwhile, Mr Reid's slimmed-down Home Office will absorb counter-terrorism strategy from the Cabinet Office. There will be 350 Home Office staff working on the counter-terrorism strategy - an increase of 150.
The government is also expected to form a new national security body that will bring all key figures together once a month. The government will also form a new national security committee, chaired by the prime minister, that will bring all key figures together once a month.
A national security board, chaired by the home secretary, will sit weekly.
The Home Office has already lost responsibility for community building and faith issues, including the preventing extremism strategy, which were passed to a new Whitehall department in 2006.The Home Office has already lost responsibility for community building and faith issues, including the preventing extremism strategy, which were passed to a new Whitehall department in 2006.
And last year, Mr Reid said parts of the Home Office were "not fit for purpose".And last year, Mr Reid said parts of the Home Office were "not fit for purpose".
But in an interview last month, his predecessor, Charles Clarke, said the problem with the department was "a lack of co-ordination between its various elements".But in an interview last month, his predecessor, Charles Clarke, said the problem with the department was "a lack of co-ordination between its various elements".
He added: "I think dividing the Home Office would make those problems far worse."He added: "I think dividing the Home Office would make those problems far worse."
Dogged by crisesDogged by crises
The Home Office has been dogged by a series of problems.The Home Office has been dogged by a series of problems.
Earlier this year it emerged that more than 27,000 case files on Britons who had committed crimes abroad, including rape and murder, had not been entered on the police computer.Earlier this year it emerged that more than 27,000 case files on Britons who had committed crimes abroad, including rape and murder, had not been entered on the police computer.
It also emerged that a third terror suspect on a control order had absconded.It also emerged that a third terror suspect on a control order had absconded.
UNFIT FOR PURPOSE? More than 200 years old£13bn budget70,000 staffDozen key policy areasUNFIT FOR PURPOSE? More than 200 years old£13bn budget70,000 staffDozen key policy areas
And before that there was a row when it emerged that the head of the Prison Service did not know how many inmates were on the run from open jails in England.And before that there was a row when it emerged that the head of the Prison Service did not know how many inmates were on the run from open jails in England.
A series of civil service "capability reviews" found the Home Office to be the worst performing of the 12 Whitehall departments thus far examined.A series of civil service "capability reviews" found the Home Office to be the worst performing of the 12 Whitehall departments thus far examined.
The Conservatives have called the plan an "admission of failure".The Conservatives have called the plan an "admission of failure".
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said there was an argument for an extra Cabinet minister within the Home Office with specific responsibility for security.Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said there was an argument for an extra Cabinet minister within the Home Office with specific responsibility for security.
But he said a departmental split could create "a whole new set of problems" and lead to "more scandals rather than less" and "two departments who are not fit for purpose rather than one".But he said a departmental split could create "a whole new set of problems" and lead to "more scandals rather than less" and "two departments who are not fit for purpose rather than one".