Plan published on race relations

London - The government yesterday published its "plan of action" to drive through the recommendations made in the Stephen Lawrence…

London - The government yesterday published its "plan of action" to drive through the recommendations made in the Stephen Lawrence inquiry report and set the foundations for a new era in race relations in Britain.

The Home Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, said he would personally need a steering group to enact most of the 70 reforms proposed by the inquiry chairman, Sir William Macpherson.

But Mr Straw said the government had serious reservations about proposals to allow prosecutions for racist offences which take place in private.