UK's new National Security Council to counter threats

Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday announced that he was setting up a National Security Council to co-ordinate his new government's response to all international and domestic threats.

Civil servant Peter Ricketts has also been appointed to the new position of National Security Advisor, with responsibility for co-ordinating the government's security agenda, Cameron's office said in a statement.

"The council will co-ordinate responses to the dangers we face, integrating at the highest level the work of the foreign, defence, home, energy and international development departments, and all other arms of government contributing to national security," the statement said.

The new body, which the Conservatives had promised to set up in their election manifesto, will be headed by Cameron. It will include Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the secretaries of state for defence, home affairs and foreign affairs.

The first meeting was to take place late yesterday to discuss Afghanistan and Pakistan and review the current terrorist threat to Britain, the statement said.

Cameron has also previously said the council would be responsible for carrying out a strategic defence and security review. A Conservative source has already indicated Cameron's new coalition government would depart from some security policies of the outgoing Labour government.

The source said they would get rid of plans for identity cards, a national identity register and the next generation of biometric passports.