Chief Minister Allan Bell says he hopes to introduce an Equality Bill before the summer recess.

He says more than 60 responses were received to a public consultation on proposed legislation that ran until the start of December.

In a written response to a House of Keys question from Kate Beecroft, Mr Bell said: 'Over 60 responses were received; all require careful consideration and anumber of those responses were very lengthy and detailed. This processis ongoing but it is going to take some time before we are in a position to publish the Government’s response to the consultation exercise and have a revised draft of the Bill ready.

'Nevertheless, accepting that it is going to take longer than I hadoriginally hoped, it remains my target for the Equality Bill to beintroduced into the Branches before the summer recess.'

Got a story? Contact Joanne on 340000 or email newsdesk@manx.net

twitter @jonewsiom