This follows criticism, particularly from the Liberal Democrats and civil liberty groups.

Recently, the number of cases involving sensitive information from MI5 and MI6 being held in secret have increased, and many have complained that this undermines the idea of open justice in the UK.

Justice Secretary Ken Clarke announced the “refined and improved” plans this morning, which involve not excluding any evidence heard in public – although information obtained by spies would continue to be given in closed court.

Plans for secret inquests meanwhile, have been dropped by the government altogether.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg led the protests against tighter secrecy in UK courtrooms, and he was apparently key in achieving “the right balance between liberty and security", according to a government source.

Former director of public prosecutions, and now a Lib Dem peer, Lord Macdonald has said that the concessions have not gone far enough.

He told the BBC, "People whose cases are decided against them on the basis of evidence they have never been allowed to see are still going to feel bitterly aggrieved by this sort of procedure.

"And some government wrongdoing in the area of national security is going to be less likely to see the light of day.”

Reprieve, which campaigns for prisoners' rights, have agreed that further changes are needed to protect our legal safeguards.