UK'S Brown-spending review to focus on anti-terror

LONDON, Nov 2 (Reuters) British finance minister Gordon Brown said today he would put anti-terrorism measures at the heart of next year's spending review and consider issuing a single cross-government budget for security issues.

In a written statement to parliament, Brown, who is expected to succeed Prime Minister Tony Blair within a year, said the safety of the public was the first task of government.

''We face a new type of threat which erodes traditional distinctions between homeland and international security and between those traditionally tasked with security policy and other areas of government,'' he said.

The next, three-year Comprehensive Spending Review will be completed in 2007. Security spending has already doubled to 2 billion pounds a year since the Sept 11 attacks on the United States.

In addition, part of an overall increase in police numbers has gone toward dedicating officers to anti-terrorist activity.

Brown said the government review would also look beyond the immediate security situation to consider the long-term requirements for ''winning hearts and minds''.

Britain has a sizeable Muslim population, parts of which have become increasingly disaffected since the invasion of Iraq and its bloody aftermath.

Last year's suicide bombings in London were carried out by four young British Muslims.

Brown said the review would build on proposals by Home Secretary John Reid, often tipped as a possible challenger to Brown for the prime minister's job, to consider how new technologies could help in the battle against terror.

REUTERS SSC ND1838