The government is proposing new legislation to draw together the current patchwork of laws regarding sex, race and religious discrimination.

The Single Equality Bill will give women the legal right to breastfeed in restaurants, shops or on public transport and will force private clubs to give women equal rights.

Communities secretary Ruth Kelly says: "For over 40 years, laws have been introduced in a piecemeal fashion and have as a result become overlapping and less clear.

"So it is right we have this review to ensure the laws which govern how people are treated in their everyday lives are as clear and effective as possible."

Commenting on the proposal Tom Hadley (pictured), the Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s director of external relations, says: “The government is right to try to simplify anti-discrimination law but a consultation document which runs into 190 pages is likely to scare businesses.”

The REC is also calling on the government not to get caught up with legal changes to the detriment of delivery on diversity. Hadley adds: “Decades of anti-discrimination laws have not delivered completely diverse workforces.  The government as well as businesses, trade bodies and individuals should all consider how to become more pro-active in this area.”

The Green Paper is out to consultation until September.