20/50/05 - Single Equality body gets go-head

The new body will replace the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) and the Disability Rights Commission.

As well as taking on the remit of these three organisations it will also tackle discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, religion and age. It will also be in charge of promoting human rights.

The proposed new commission has been criticised by the CRE. It has opted to join the new body in 2009, two years after it is due to be set up.

The government is determined to go ahead with the plan to create what it says will be a "modern light touch regulator".

Once it is set up the commission will help to draw up a new equality bill, to close loopholes in the current legislation.