THE HAGUE, Friday - The Justice Minister is to have chief responsibility for the National Anti-terrorism Coordinator (NCTb). Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin himself has drawn up a proposed bill for this purpose, his spokesman said.

The justice ministry appeared yesterday to be responding to a leaked report by two professors at the University of Leiden. They recommend having the NCTb come under either the Home Affairs or the Justice Minister. Currently, they share the responsibility.

The evaluation was obtained by TV programme Nova Wednesday evening. In the broadcast, it emerged that the Lower House also wants one minister to be responsible for NCTb. But the MPs are divided over which department this should be.

A spokesman for Ernst Hirsch Ballin said yesterday that the minister is putting the finishing touches to a proposed bill that gives the Justice Minister - himself - the ultimate responsibility for NCTb. "The cabinet will shortly discuss this plan."

The leaked report also advises that the AIVD secret service must share more information with NCTb. This proposal should win broad support in the House. Finally, the NCTb should be re-christened the 'National Anti-terrorism Authority,' according to the report.

The professors' recommendations seem to have sown dissent among the two biggest government parties. The Christian democrats (CDA) want the justice ministry to be responsible for combating terrorism; Labour (PvdA) prefers home affairs. As far as is known, only the centre-left D66 party wants responsibility to remain shared between two ministries.

The secret report was apparently already completed in January. A Lower House majority is incensed that it has not been made public for all this time, according to NOVA. The justice ministry said a reaction that the report will be sent to the House shortly.