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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Home Office to be split into two | Home Office to be split into two |
| (about 2 hours 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, Tony Blair is expected to say. |
| 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. | |
| 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 | 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 |
| The Ministry of Justice could be set up within the next two months. The department is currently run by Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer. | The Ministry of Justice could be set up within the next two months. The department is currently run by Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer. |
| Meanwhile, 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. |
| The government is also expected to form a new national security body that will bring all key figures together once a month. | The government is also expected to form a new national security body that will bring all key figures together once a month. |
| 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 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. |
| 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 areas | UNFIT 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". |