Solicitors this week welcomed the creation of a commission which will promote human rights and equality - but warned that it will need adequate funding to perform an effective role.

The new body has the working title of Commission for Equality and Human Rights and will replace the Commission for Racial Equality, Equal Opportunities Commission and Disability Rights Commission, as well as bringing the promotion of human rights into its remit.

Leading human rights specialist Louise Christian, a partner at London firm Christian Khan, said: 'Incorporating human rights into our legislation is only the beginning...

We need a body with an educational role, and the commission could play a huge part in the development of human rights.

But it will only be able to do this properly if it is given the resources and clout it needs.'

Stephen Grosz, a partner at London firm Bindman & Partners said: 'Human rights lawyers would have liked an independent, free-standing human rights commission - but the government made it pretty clear early on that this was not going to happen.

'It seems the new commission will have enforcement powers for equality, but only promotion powers for human rights.

I would have liked to see it with enforcement powers.

There is some concern that human rights has been given a back seat.'

Law Society chief executive Janet Paraskeva welcomed the commission, 'which we hope will have sufficient powers and resources to develop a true equality and human rights culture in this country.'

Rachel Rothwell