May to outline control order reforms

The orders, which critics describe as being akin to house arrest, are likely to be replaced with "surveillance orders"

The system of curfews will be eased, along with restrictions on the use of mobile phones and computers, but some controls are likely to be kept for a small number of individuals.

The issue is fraught for the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who campaigned at the General Election on a pledge to abolish control orders.

The revised form of control orders could include concessions over education and work.

Lord Carlile, the independent reviewer of counter-terrorism powers, said everyone understood that there was a small cohort of suspected terrorists who could not be prosecuted and "against whom some protection is required".

A total of eight terror suspects are currently subject to control orders.