The Commission for Racial Equality had opposed plans for the CEHR

The Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) will eventually take responsibility for tackling gender, race and disability discrimination.

It will also promote equality regarding age, religion and sexual orientation.

The government is believed to have countered some criticisms of CEHR by increasing its proposed powers.

Equalities review

The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), the only one of the three current equality watchdogs to oppose the CEHR plan, appears to be pleased with the plans.

Last year CRE chairman Trevor Phillips and the CRE's commissioners voted against supporting the plans for the CEHR.

At the time he said of the CEHR that it was the "wrong proposal at the wrong time".

Mr Phillips now said he welcomed the "improvements" made by the government to its equality commission plans.

The proposals have appeased other groups which previously opposed the plan for a single equalities bodies, such as the 1990 Trust, which describes itself as a black-led human rights organisation.

"The Equality Bill is a massive improvement on the white paper proposals," said Karen Chouchan, the 1990 Trust's chief executive.

"We are pleased the government has listened to our criticisms and those of the black community,"

Merge delayed

The bill is expected to confirm the government has accommodated the CRE's request for a delay in merging it into the CEHR.

The Equal Opportunities Commission and the Disability Rights Commission are expected to be merged into the CEHR when it is formed in 2007.

However, it is believed the CRE will continue in its current form until 2009.

Mr Phillips will also to head a government-backed equalities review, due to start work soon, leading a panel of experts to investigate the causes of discrimination and disadvantage.

His review will work alongside one by the Department of Trade and Industry, which is responsible for the Equality Bill, aimed at modernising the UK's equality laws.

Amongst other issues, the DTI review will look at outlawing anti-gay discrimination, a key demand by campaigners for many years.