Ollie Stone-Lee BBC News Online political staff

Disabled people still suffer discrimination

Friday is the last day of consultation on government proposals to create a new equality commission tackling discrimination on grounds of age, sexual orientation, religion, gender, disability and race.

The Disability Rights Commission (DRC), one of the three current discrimination agencies, says none of the government's proposed options would work.

One of them is backed by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), but even it says changes must be backed up by new laws - something the government has yet to offer.

European action

The DRC and EOC, along with the Commission for Racial Equality, are the three current agencies working against discrimination on grounds of disability, gender and race.

A new European directive outlawing discrimination against people because of their age, sexual orientation and religion has spurred ministers to propose the new single agency.

The government last year proposed three options for the new body:

• A single equality body giving advice across the board
• A single gateway for the existing commissions
• An overarching commission, under which the existing agencies would work more closely and share some resources.

The DRC says it does not object in principle to the idea of a single equality body.

But in an interview for BBC News Online its chairman, Bert Massie, said the current proposals would weaken efforts to cut discrimination.

The government should bite the bullet and be more bold Bert Massie Disability Rights Commission

"There would be a lot of anxiety among the discriminated groups," said Mr Massie.

The commission believes a single body would mean victims of different types of discrimination would lose the expertise currently available.

And using a single gateway could not cope with the vast range of different issues it would face, it says.

Agenda problems

Mr Massie said ministers must establish a new body for the long term, even if it meant delaying its introduction beyond 2006 - the current planned start date.

"If they rush it, it could be disastrous for everybody," he warned.

Mr Massie said it had taken 15 years for disabled rights campaigners to agree a common agenda - and such problems should not be repeated.

DRC chief executive Bob Niven accused the government of "administrative tidy mindedness".

The current proposals would lump together six separate commissions into one, said Mr Niven.

The DRC instead wants a single commission with an umbrella body sharing resources for staff recruitment, finance and a helpline.

But its proposed new commission would also include specialist units for each type of discrimination.

Law gaps

The DRC is also pressing for a new equality act to put all discrimination law on an equal footing as part of a "quantum leap" in anti-prejudice measures.

Mr Massie said a nightclub could not, for example, currently refuse entry to a wheelchair-user, but could bar access from a gay person.

That meant any new single agency had to have the same powers to deal with each type of discrimination.

"The government should bite the bullet and be more bold," added Mr Massie.

His call for new legislation was backed by Julie Mellor, who chairs the Equal Opportunities Commission.

She said: "A single equality body is an important part of what we need to create a society where differences are respected and everyone is able to fulfil their potential...

"But to achieve that goal Britain needs modern and consistent legislation that actively promotes equality as well as ensuring individuals have access to justice if they are treated unfairly."

Supporters of a new equality body say it can help people who face discrimination on for more than one reason.

The Commission for Racial Equality is delaying its response to the consultation process as its new chairman, broadcaster Trevor Phillips, has yet to take up his post.

The government says the plans are part of its efforts to forge a more inclusive society, and says it aims to produce its final plans in the spring after more discussions.