The government has set out proposals to remove ministers' role in judicial appointments, ease restrictions on protesting in Parliament Square and give MPs the power to approve military action.

Justice secretary Jack Straw used a Commons statement on Thursday to launch three new consultation papers on constitutional reform, setting out the options being considered by ministers.

He also announced moves to ban payments by journalists to criminals, review personal data use and reform the powers that the police and public bodies have to enter private properties.

And Straw said that the government will publish its national security strategy on an annual basis "setting out the threats that we face and the objectives we pursue".

Treaties

Under the plans MPs will get the final say over whether to approve government decisions to deploy troops and sign international treaties.

Ministers favour the development of a convention, formalised in a resolution, that MPs will, whenever possible, be granted a vote on significant military deployments.

The use of legislation to guarantee a vote on deployments will be an option, but it is not thought by the government to be practical.

Straw said: "One of the main themes of our proposed constitutional changes was that we should examine whether a range of powers exercised by the executive should be limited.

"The deployment of the armed forces abroad and how Parliament scrutinise treaties are two issues which are central to strengthening the role of Parliament."

However he added: "It is essential that any new arrangements should not damage morale, hinder us in meeting our international obligations, nor inhibit operational flexibility and the need for secrecy and to act in emergencies."

The new arrangements must also not put the armed forces under any "legal liability".

Straw also said ministers would consult on putting the Ponsonby convention - for ratifying treaties by consulting MPs - on a statutory footing.

Judiciary

A second consultation on judicial appointments will ask whether ministers' role could be further reduced.

The government established the Judicial Appointments Commission as part of the 2005 Constitutional Reform Act, leaving the lord chancellor with a limited ability to reject a selection or ask for it to be reconsidered.

But Straw said: "Any system must be devoid of party politics, accountable, enhance the integrity and independence of the judiciary, and inspire public confidence.

"I have every confidence that this new system already achieves this. But it is appropriate that in the context of the governance of Britain debate inaugurated by the prime minister... we should now seek views on whether any future changes are required."

A limited "confirmatory role" for MPs in the appointment of senior judges will be considered if the role of ministers is reduced.

However US-style binding confirmation hearings for judicial appointments will be resisted.

Security

Restrictions on protests in Parliament Square will also be reviewed to see if "there is a better way both to uphold the right to protest and manage individual protests appropriately" Straw said.

Anti-war activists have been camped outside the Palace of Westminster since the run-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, but previous legislative attempts to remove them have been seen as heavy-handed.

In a further move, Straw pledged a "more open approach" to the intelligence and security committee with Parliament having a clear role in appointing its members, which are currently selected by and report to ministers.

The plans, discussed by the cabinet on Tuesday, are seen as a key part of Gordon Brown's drive to devolve power and restore trust in politics.

The consultations follow the publication of the 'Governance of Britain' green paper by the prime minister in July this year.

"I hope and believe the House will agree the matters I've raised today go to the heart of exactly where power should lie in our country and how it should be exercised," Straw said.