The Government is to provide legal protection for transgender people after years of campaigning by Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper.

Equality minister Meg Munn has pledged to extend new discrimination laws to the transgender community within the next four years.

The Equality Bill currently before Parliament will outlaw discrimination in the provision of goods and services on grounds of religion or sexual orientation.

Ms Munn said the Bill was not suitable for tackling discrimination against transgender people as well. But she insisted the Government would bring in new legislation before the next General Election that would deal with the matter.

She said: "We are committed to ensuring transsexual people are protected against discrimination in the areas of goods, facilities and services. Work is already under way, within the context of the discrimination law review, to ensure transsexual people gain the legal protection we all agree should be available."

Ms Munn said the Government was not persuaded that extending the reach of the current Bill to transgender discrimination was "the right approach".

She said: "In many cases, discrimination issues facing transsexual people are not the same as those facing gay men and lesbians. We need to understand them properly before we legislate."

Mr Lepper welcomed the announcement.

He said: "The Government has a record second to none in dealing with sexual orientation and gender.

"I am pleased to have played a part in the equalisation of the age of consent at 16, the repeal of Section 28, the Civil Partnerships Act and the Gender Act and to have been able to back the review of sexual offences legislation.

"There is more to do on transgender equality and I am convinced the Government will do it."