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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| No exemption from gay rights law | No exemption from gay rights law |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Downing Street has said there will be no exemption from anti-discrimination laws for Catholic adoption agencies. | Downing Street has said there will be no exemption from anti-discrimination laws for Catholic adoption agencies. |
| But Tony Blair's official spokesman said the agencies would be given 21 months to prepare for the new laws. | But Tony Blair's official spokesman said the agencies would be given 21 months to prepare for the new laws. |
| Catholic adoption agencies had warned they would close rather than place children with gay couples, saying that went against their beliefs. | Catholic adoption agencies had warned they would close rather than place children with gay couples, saying that went against their beliefs. |
| The proposed measures are likely to face a vote in parliament next month before coming into effect on 6 April. | The proposed measures are likely to face a vote in parliament next month before coming into effect on 6 April. |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair said he believed ministers had found a "way through" to prevent discrimination and protect the interests of children, which all "reasonable people" should be able to accept. | Prime Minister Tony Blair said he believed ministers had found a "way through" to prevent discrimination and protect the interests of children, which all "reasonable people" should be able to accept. |
| No exemptions | No exemptions |
| "There is no place in our society for discrimination. That's why I support the right of gay couples to apply to adopt like any other couple. | "There is no place in our society for discrimination. That's why I support the right of gay couples to apply to adopt like any other couple. |
| "And that way there can be no exemptions for faith-based adoption agencies offering public funded services from regulations that prevent discrimination." | "And that way there can be no exemptions for faith-based adoption agencies offering public funded services from regulations that prevent discrimination." |
| But former shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe said it was not a compromise and meant Catholic agencies would have to close down. | But former shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe said it was not a compromise and meant Catholic agencies would have to close down. |
| Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, head of Catholics in England and Wales, had said the closure of his seven agencies would be a "wholly avoidable tragedy". | Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, head of Catholics in England and Wales, had said the closure of his seven agencies would be a "wholly avoidable tragedy". |
| We all know that there is a wide range of potential adoptive parents out there, including lesbians and gay men who can provide a loving home for children Ruth Kelly | We all know that there is a wide range of potential adoptive parents out there, including lesbians and gay men who can provide a loving home for children Ruth Kelly |
| He wanted to continue the Catholic Church's policy of referring gay couples to other adoption agencies. | He wanted to continue the Catholic Church's policy of referring gay couples to other adoption agencies. |
| The Equality Act, due to come into effect in England, Wales and Scotland in April, outlaws discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the basis of sexual orientation. | The Equality Act, due to come into effect in England, Wales and Scotland in April, outlaws discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the basis of sexual orientation. |
| And gay groups and some MPs had argued that there could be no exemption from discrimination on faith grounds. | And gay groups and some MPs had argued that there could be no exemption from discrimination on faith grounds. |
| The row was said to have split the Cabinet. Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said government was about "robust debate and finding solutions that meet our principles". | The row was said to have split the Cabinet. Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said government was about "robust debate and finding solutions that meet our principles". |
| 'Breakthrough' | 'Breakthrough' |
| She described the announcement as a "breakthrough" on what had been an "extremely complex issue". | She described the announcement as a "breakthrough" on what had been an "extremely complex issue". |
| She said the government wanted to tackle discrimination, but did not want to lose adoption expertise which helped place some of the most vulnerable children. | She said the government wanted to tackle discrimination, but did not want to lose adoption expertise which helped place some of the most vulnerable children. |
| "The package announced today, gives us the opportunity to meet both of those tests," she said. | "The package announced today, gives us the opportunity to meet both of those tests," she said. |
| Religious agencies will have a "statutory duty" to refer gay couples to other agencies, until the end of 2008. | Religious agencies will have a "statutory duty" to refer gay couples to other agencies, until the end of 2008. |
| The government hopes the extra time will allow the agencies' expertise and knowledge to be passed onto the secular sector, rather than being lost altogether. | The government hopes the extra time will allow the agencies' expertise and knowledge to be passed onto the secular sector, rather than being lost altogether. |
| Ms Kelly said the 21-month period would allow agencies to adapt. An independent assessment would be carried out to ensure expertise was not lost. | Ms Kelly said the 21-month period would allow agencies to adapt. An independent assessment would be carried out to ensure expertise was not lost. |
| "During the period up to 2008 we will look to faith based adoption agencies to work with us on how they might adapt their methods of operation to meet the new legal requirements," she said. | "During the period up to 2008 we will look to faith based adoption agencies to work with us on how they might adapt their methods of operation to meet the new legal requirements," she said. |
| "We all know that there is a wide range of potential adoptive parents out there, including lesbians and gay men who can provide a loving home for children." | "We all know that there is a wide range of potential adoptive parents out there, including lesbians and gay men who can provide a loving home for children." |
| Education Secretary Alan Johnson and Labour MP Angela Eagle, who had both opposed an exemption, welcomed the announcement. | |
| For the Lib Dems, Lorely Burt said a transition period of almost two years seemed "unnecessarily long". | |
| "The wishes of Catholic adoption agencies should not be elevated above the rest of society," she said. | |
| Earlier Conservative leader David Cameron said he would vote for the regulations, if a compromise could not be reached. | |
| He has promised Tory MPs a free vote on what he see as an issue of conscience. |