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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Home Office to be split into two | Home Office to be split into two |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Home Office will be split into two separate departments for security and for justice in the next six weeks. | The Home Office will be split into two separate departments for security and for justice in the next six weeks. |
| 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 it will "compound" problems, while ex-home secretary Charles Clarke called it an "irresponsible decision". | Tories say it will "compound" problems, while ex-home secretary Charles Clarke called it an "irresponsible decision". |
| The changes...are aimed at producing a step change in our approach to managing the terrorist threat to the UK and winning the battle for hearts and minds Tony Blair Analysis: Split purpose class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6506801.stm">In full: Statement on split | |
| John Reid's slimmed-down Home Office will absorb counter-terrorism strategy from the Cabinet Office, with the creation of an Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism. | John Reid's slimmed-down Home Office will absorb counter-terrorism strategy from the Cabinet Office, with the creation of an Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism. |
| There will be 350 Home Office staff working on the counter-terrorism strategy - an increase of 150. | There will be 350 Home Office staff working on the counter-terrorism strategy - an increase of 150. |
| Mr Reid said the changes were needed to meet the changing threats. | Mr Reid said the changes were needed to meet the changing threats. |
| "Along with the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour, the Home Office will be re-focused towards the challenges of today's world, and focus on the priorities of today's people." | "Along with the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour, the Home Office will be re-focused towards the challenges of today's world, and focus on the priorities of today's people." |
| In a written statement to the House of Commons, Prime Minister Tony Blair said Britain's counter-terrorism capabilites were "the best in the world" but still needed to be improved. | In a written statement to the House of Commons, Prime Minister Tony Blair said Britain's counter-terrorism capabilites were "the best in the world" but still needed to be improved. |
| He was "strengthening" the home secretary's role to give him the lead responsibility for dealing with threats to the UK "including their overseas dimension". | He was "strengthening" the home secretary's role to give him the lead responsibility for dealing with threats to the UK "including their overseas dimension". |
| 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, probation Who gets what in shake-up | 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, probation Who gets what in shake-up |
| However, other ministers, including the Foreign Secretary, Defence Secretary and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, would still have responsibilities. | However, other ministers, including the Foreign Secretary, Defence Secretary and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, would still have responsibilities. |
| Mr Blair said: "The changes...are aimed at producing a step change in our approach to managing the terrorist threat to the UK and winning the battle for hearts and minds." | Mr Blair said: "The changes...are aimed at producing a step change in our approach to managing the terrorist threat to the UK and winning the battle for hearts and minds." |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The classic solution for management when faced with a failing organisation is to re-organise J Hardy, Manchester Send us your comments And last year, Mr Reid said parts of the Home Office were "not fit for purpose". | HAVE YOUR SAY The classic solution for management when faced with a failing organisation is to re-organise J Hardy, Manchester Send us your comments And last year, Mr Reid said parts of the Home Office were "not fit for purpose". |
| The plans came under fire from Mr Reid's predecessor, Charles Clarke, who said the problem with the department was "a lack of co-ordination between its various elements". | The plans came under fire from Mr Reid's predecessor, Charles Clarke, who said the problem with the department was "a lack of co-ordination between its various elements". |
| He called the split an "irresponsible decision [which] further delays the reforms which are critically necessary throughout the criminal justice system". | He called the split an "irresponsible decision [which] further delays the reforms which are critically necessary throughout the criminal justice system". |
| He said "the coherence and coordination of the criminal justice system which is so important for its success will be damaged seriously by these proposals". | He said "the coherence and coordination of the criminal justice system which is so important for its success will be damaged seriously by these proposals". |
| Dogged by crises | Dogged 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. |
| UNFIT FOR PURPOSE? More than 200 years old£13bn budget70,000 staffDozen key policy areas | UNFIT FOR PURPOSE? More than 200 years old£13bn budget70,000 staffDozen key policy areas |
| It also emerged that a third terror suspect on a control order had absconded, while last year it emerged more than 1,000 foreign prisoners were freed without being considered for deportation. | |
| 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 said the split could cause more problems. | The Conservatives said the split could cause more problems. |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "The logic, presumably, is that this job is too difficult for the home secretary to do. | Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "The logic, presumably, is that this job is too difficult for the home secretary to do. |
| More than once in recent years, Tony Blair has planned to do this BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full | |
| "It has been well run in the past by home secretaries of all parties, when it was much bigger and still had responsibility for licensing, gambling, broadcasting, fire, civil defence, human rights, equal opportunities and charities. | "It has been well run in the past by home secretaries of all parties, when it was much bigger and still had responsibility for licensing, gambling, broadcasting, fire, civil defence, human rights, equal opportunities and charities. |
| "Breaking it up will solve none of the Home Office's problems. | "Breaking it up will solve none of the Home Office's problems. |
| "It will just create a whole new raft of problems." | "It will just create a whole new raft of problems." |
| He criticised the government for announcing the changes in a written statement, but Mr Reid said changes to the "machinary" of government were frequently announced in such a way. | He criticised the government for announcing the changes in a written statement, but Mr Reid said changes to the "machinary" of government were frequently announced in such a way. |
| For the Lib Dems Nick Clegg noted that his calls for a full inquiry into the 7 July bombings had been rejected on the grounds it would distract officials from their anti-terror work. | For the Lib Dems Nick Clegg noted that his calls for a full inquiry into the 7 July bombings had been rejected on the grounds it would distract officials from their anti-terror work. |
| The decision to split the department would take up more time and effort than that, he suggested. | |
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