The government is to delay legislation which would ban discrimination against the disabled.

Labour's manifesto at the 2001 general election promised to extend basic rights for the disabled.

The proposed law, which will not be in the next Queen's Speech, would have provided new rights in transport and housing, would also have outlawed discrimination against people with long term illnesses such as cancer or HIV.

The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated privately that the bill will not be brought forward in the next parliamentary session.