A SINGLE body should be set up to drive forward a culture of human rights, Labour MP Ashok Kumar has argued.

Dr Kumar said the public would be better served if the Commission for Racial Equality, the Equal Opportunities Commission and Disability Rights Commission were wound up and replaced with one organisation.

His claim comes as a Parliamentary Committee recommended the new body be set up and for it to include areas such as age discrimination. Dr Kumar has tabled a House of Commons motion backing the proposals.

The Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP said: "At the moment we have a number of anti-discrimination bodies and they have served us well."

"But there's other discrimination that needs to be addressed, such as age and sexual orientation.

"A single body would help to create a human rights culture and also cut down on bureaucracy. I think it would get the greater support from the public in the country at large."

According to the joint committee of MPs and Peers, the case for a human rights commission for England and Wales is "compelling" because the Government's attempt to foster a rights-based culture is stalling.

Following a two-year inquiry, they say public bodies such as local councils and hospitals "do enough to avoid litigation and no more".