Measures aimed at dealing with problems over asylum seekers, terrorism and race hate have been announced by the Home Secretary.

The key measures in David Blunkett's speech to Labour's conference in Brighton will go before Parliament within weeks.

The government's legislative response to the terrorist attacks in the US will include making it an offence for financial institutions not to report transactions which they knew or suspected to be involved in terrorist activity.

Law enforcement agencies will be given the power to demand full access to passenger and freight information which air and sea carriers will be required to retain.

A complete overhaul of the UK's extradition system will also be set in motion with the current rules being replaced with a streamlined four-tier system of procedures.

On the race hate issue the law on incitement will be widened to include religious hatred as well as racial hatred. A new category of religious aggravated offences will be added to the Crime and Disorder Act.

Over the controversial issue of asylum seekers, Blunkett announced the Immigration and Asylum Act will be altered to include US-style bans on applications for citizenship to people suspected or convicted of terrorist involvement.

The work permits system will be overhauled with a move to a "green card" system. A points tally, already used by countries such as Australia, will allow skilled people with high levels of qualifications to seek work without a specific job offer from an employer.

Blunkett's policy announcements drew a cool response from civil rights campaigners. John Wadham, director of Liberty, said safeguards had to be put in place to prevent miscarriages of justice."It's vitally important that people who arrive in Britain are treated fairly and that those who are likely to be persecuted in other countries are protected, and not put on the first plane back. Asylum seekers' experience of the system shows how necessary it is that there are adequate safeguards - and judicial review is an essential part of that process," he said.

Wadham said the Home Office should make better use of the current legislation on the statute book.

"There are already laws which could be better used to protect all of our communities. Given the discrimination that exists in the police and criminal justice system and in the current climate it is more likely that Moslems will be prosecuted than those who vilify them," he said.