Details have been announced of a group set up by the government to stamp out racism in Scotland.

The group, chaired by Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace, will oversee the implementation of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry recommendations.

In July, the Scottish Executive accepted almost all of Sir William Macpherson's 70 proposals to tackle racism.

Lawrence murder 'horrific'

Mr Wallace said: "The murder of Stephen Lawrence was a horrific event which forced us all to think again about race relations across the United Kingdom.

"Our acceptance of the overwhelming majority of the recommendations in the Macpherson Report showed our willingness to tackle the problem of racism in Scotland and the establishment of this steering group is another big step forward.

"The membership of the steering group reflects a wide range of interests in the fight against racism and follows extensive consultation with the Commission for Racial Equality.

'Constructive progress

"The expert group will hold to account all those responsible for implementing the Lawrence inquiry recommendations.

"I am confident that a great deal of constructive progress will begin when the group meets for the first time in the New Year."

The group includes representatives from:

• Crown Office
  
  
• Scottish Executive Justice Department
  
  
• Commission for Racial Equality (CRE)
  
  
• Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
  
  
• Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS)
  
  
• Association of Scottish Police Superintendents
  
  
• Scottish Police Federation.

There are also nine members who are there in an independent capacity.

They include Lawrence Ramadas, who was involved in a race discrimination claim against Strathclyde police, before rejoining the force.

Bashir Maan, the convenor of Strathclyde police joint board, has been appointed along with Raj Jandoo, an advocate who played a part in the investigation into the murder of South African human rights activisit Steve Biko.

Published in February, the report into the inquiry of the murder of Stephen Lawrence found that the investigation was marred by a combination of professional incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership by senior officers.

Figures from the Commission for Racial Equality, show that in 1997/98 Scotland was home to 2.1% of people from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK but recorded 7.3% of racially-motivated incidents.