Following the publication of an independent review on Northern Ireland's anti-terror legislation, ministers have said they will seek to renew most security powers for another year.

Ulster security minister Ian Pearson said that renewing the powers "while regrettable is clearly necessary".

Parliament will be asked to approve the continuation of the temporary provisions contained in Part VII of the Terrorism Act 2000 which relate to Northern Ireland.

The government said it is committed to "the ultimate removal of these temporary provisions" but needed to renew the vast majority of the provisions on the basis of advice received from security advisers.

"The government remains committed to removing these provisions when the security situation returns to normal," said Pearson.

"However, the renewal of the Part VII powers while regrettable is clearly necessary.

"While there has been some improvement in the security situation over the past decade the renewal of the vast majority of the temporary powers currently in force is required.

"This view is shared by both the government's security advisers and also Lord Carlile the independent reviewer of the Terrorism Act."

Lapse

Two sections of the anti-terror powers, however, will be allowed to lapse.

These relate to a discretion to grant bail in some scheduled cases and powers for ministers to order a young person charged with a scheduled offence to be held in a prison while on remand.

The announcements came as Lord Carlile published his report on the workings of Part VII of the Terrorism Act.

His report said there were "very strong reservations expressed by many about the whole process of scheduling and the use of non-jury courts".

But he added that evidence provided to him showed "again in 2004 there were several incidents involving acts of terrorism that demonstrated a continuing danger from sophisticated terrorist crime".

"The specification of proscribed organisations remains necessary, having regard to the continuing danger posed by terrorist groups, especially those which have placed themselves entirely outside the sphere of influence of the Northern Ireland democratic institutions and political parties," said the report.