The existing Disability Discrimination Act is to be extended to cover people with such conditions as cancer, HIV and Multiple Sclerosis, ministers announced on Wednesday.

Under the government's Draft Disability Bill, the law will also include almost all activities of the public sector, and will require all organisations to actively promote the equality of opportunity for disabled people.

Work and pensions secretary Andrew Smith said: "The draft Disability Bill published today is landmark legislation to serve the civil rights of disabled people, driving out discrimination and bringing practical benefits to disabled people and the whole community.

"Taken with other measures the government has brought in, it transforms the landscape of disability rights compared to 1997 and puts Britain at the forefront of international best practice".

Forum Response: Disabiltiy Rights Commission

Bert Massie of the Disability Rights Commission said: "The DRC warmly welcomes this. The Bill offers the long awaited right for disabled people to use public transport, it deals with injustices caused to cancer and HIV sufferers by providing protection from discrimination and makes it clear that the functions of public bodies are now covered within its scope.

"The provision for a public sector duty to promote disability equality similar to that used for race will have seismic implications in reforming practices and policies across a wide reach of activities bringing about systemic progress for all disabled people.

"The DRC will work with the government on the Bill in the months ahead to secure its actual passage as soon as possible."

Forum Response: RNIB

Steve Winyard, head of public policy, said: "The draft bill contains measures that will make a real difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted people. No longer will blind and partially sighted people be discriminated against when using buses and trains.

"No longer will Guide dog owners face restricted access to accommodation because landlords have policies banning dogs from their premises.

"No longer will councillors with sight problems be prevented from performing their duties as local representatives due to the lack of accessible information.

"A public sector duty to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people and extension of the DDA to cover functions of public bodies will have huge benefits for all disabled people."

Forum Response: Disabilities Trust

Matt Townsend public affairs officer of the Disabilities Trust told ePolitix.com: "The Disabilities Trust welcomes the publication of the Draft Disability Bill. It is essential that the law closes any remaining loopholes that allow for continued discrimination against the UK's eight and a half million people with disabilities. This is particularly true of areas such as housing and transport which the DDA did not cover."It is also important that the Bill includes a provision for public bodies to promote equality as change is needed in attitudes as well as practices. We can only hope that this legislation will finally guarantee full civil rights for people with disabilities."

Forum Response: Age Concern

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern England said:"We welcome the proposal to include a duty for public bodies to promote disability equality in the Draft Disability Bill. Discrimination should not just be tackled or punished once it has happened. A positive duty for public bodies to promote equality and good community relations (along the lines of the existing one for race) is an effective way to prevent discrimination occuring in the first place.

"Age equality must be treated in the same way. We want the government to introduce a Bill in the Queen's Speech 2004 to set up the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. This legislation would be an excellent opportunity to establish a duty for public bodies to promote equality in all areas - including age."

Forum Response: Shaw Trust

A spokesperson for Shaw Trust told ePolitix.com: "Shaw Trust welcomes the draft Disability Bill, which seeks to address omissions within the current Disability Discrimination Act. There are significant advances set out in the draft Disability Discrimination Bill and the coming year promises interesting debate about the way forward.

"Firstly it is important to remember that most disabled people are not born with their impairments but they are acquired during working life, therefore to extend clear DDA protection to people living with such conditions as cancer, HIV and multiple sclerosis is highly appropriate.

"There are logical and practical reasons to extending DDA cover to include transport services themselves and not just the infrastructure. Having an accessible and integrated transport system can only contribute to disabled people's ability to gain and maintain themselves in work.

"Placing a duty on public bodies to promote disability equality, bringing a parallel to the Race Relations Amendment Act is important. Whilst the European Year of Disabled People has raised awareness of disability equality issues within many public bodies, this new responsibility will speed up change and compliment the work that charities and the voluntary sector are already doing alongside disabled people.

"During the European Year of Disabled People Shaw Trust celebrated it 21st year of delivering employment services to disabled people, working with 25000 people and 3000 employers who have, with Shaw Trust's support, recruited disabled people to work in their companies.. It is our experience that legislation is vital in focussing attention on the rights of disabled people to access the labour market. This is an important step in achieving the real and lasting change which occurs when non-disabled and disabled people work alongside each other."