Forum Brief: Equality commission

The government is to set up a one-stop-shop equality watchdog to police burgeoning anti-discrimination laws.

Cabinet Office minister Barbara Roche has announced plans for a single commission to take over from the six commissions currently tackling discrimination on the grounds of disability, race, sex, religion, age and sexuality.

Forum Response: Age Concern

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern in England, told ePolitix.com: "Age Concern welcomes the government's announcement today that it plans to establish a Single Equalities Commission. This is an important step forward in tackling age discrimination alongside other forms of discrimination.

"However, we do not want age to be treated as the poor relation of, for example, race or gender. The government must set out clearly how age discrimination will be dealt with on a level playing field.

"At present there is no comprehensive law in place to protect people from age discrimination but the government will have to meet its commitments on age equality in employment in the EU Employment and Race Directives before 2006. If a Single Equalities Commission is introduced, it is essential that it is in place before the Directives takes effect."

Forum Response: Disability Rights Commission

Bert Massie, Chairman of the Disability Rights Commission said: "Disabled people fought for many years to establish enforceable civil rights - these began to come into force only five years ago and many remain to be implemented.

"We must ensure disabled people's voices continue to be heard and their rights enforced. A Single Commission might work to the advantage of all and be a tremendous opportunity to tackle multi-discrimination. However, a Single Equality Commission should not precede a Single Equality Act."