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Bid to find gay adoption accord Gay adoption rules 'rail-roaded'
(about 1 hour later)
A fresh attempt is being made to allow Catholic adoption agencies to keep working under new equality laws, the BBC has learned. The government has been accused of "rail-roading" through gay equality laws that, Catholic adoption agencies argue, will force them to close.
The agencies have said they will close rather than act against their faith and handle requests from gay couples. Some Tory MPs criticised the "unseemly haste" with which ministers sought to pass regulations through Parliament.
A cross-party working group of MPs has been set up to try to find a compromise - a move which could also stave off a defeat in a Lords vote on Wednesday. But an attempt to get them thrown out was defeated, by 310 votes to 100.
Meanwhile a bid by some Tory MPs to overturn the rules has been defeated. A cross-party working group has been set up to try to find a compromise and a way to allow Catholic agencies to keep working under the new law.
The government had refused to allow Catholic agencies to opt out of the regulations, saying there can be no opt-out from the Equality Act, which aims to outlaw discrimination by businesses and service providers. The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations are aimed at outlawing discrimination against gay people by businesses and service providers.
Compromise sought No opt-out
It is hoped that the cross-party group, which will liaise with the Catholic Church to seek a compromise will also appease Labour and Tory backbenchers who oppose efforts to force the Catholic Church to comply. But the government has refused to allow faith-based agencies an opt-out, and has instead given them a 21-month transition period, from April, when the rules are due to come in.
The Catholic Church argues it goes against church teachings for them to consider gay couples as prospective parents and its agencies will have to close if forced to comply with the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) regulations. But the Catholic Church says it will have to shut its agencies, which handle some of the most difficult cases, after that - rather than go against its beliefs.
It was granted a 21-month transition period, but had expected to have to close its agencies entirely - which handle 4% of adoptions, but among them some of the children considered most difficult to place.
Profound public concern about aspects of these regulations has not been heard Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'ConnorProfound public concern about aspects of these regulations has not been heard Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor
On Monday the Catholic head of England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, said the government was rushing through the regulations - after MPs were asked to approve them without debate. Earlier the Catholic head of England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, said the government was rushing through the regulations - after MPs were asked to approve them without debate.
He accused the government of "an abuse of parliamentary democracy", saying the controversial regulations were "being considered by Parliament only through a hurriedly arranged and very brief meeting of 16 appointed MPs, and a short debate in the House of Lords".He accused the government of "an abuse of parliamentary democracy", saying the controversial regulations were "being considered by Parliament only through a hurriedly arranged and very brief meeting of 16 appointed MPs, and a short debate in the House of Lords".
He added: "Profound public concern about aspects of these regulations has not been heard."He added: "Profound public concern about aspects of these regulations has not been heard."
Vote defeated 'Unseemly haste'
Some Conservatives were also angry that there had been no opportunity to debate them fully and forced a vote attempting to throw out the regulations, but were defeated by 310 votes to 100. And some backbench Tory MPs agreed with him, with many flooding into the Commons chamber to raise a series of points of order about the way the regulations were being handled.
Tory MPs including Ann Widdecombe, Sir Patrick Cormack and Peter Luff argued that they should have been debated in the Commons chamber. Tory former home office minister Ann Widdecombe said there had been an "almost unprecedented shortness of time" from the regulations being introduced and moved into the Commons.
But Labour MP Dennis Skinner said the Conservative front bench supported the government in holding the debate in a committee. They were being moved with "extreme and unseemly haste," she said.
The draft regulations do not have to be debated by MPs, because they form part of the Equality Act - two thirds of which has already been approved. There is no place in our society for discrimination Tony Blair
But the House of Lords will debate them on Wednesday. Ministers hope setting up the cross-party group and showing willingness to compromise might help stave off a likely defeat in the Lords. Tory MP Roger Gale said they were being "rail-roaded" through and Tory MP Peter Luff said he had been unable to answer constituents' queries about the regulations, because he had not had time to discuss them with ministers.
Lib Dem MP Evan Harris, who supports the new regulations, also said he was concerned they were being rushed through without proper debate.
But the regulations were approved by a majority of 210 votes, after some Tory backbenchers forced a vote. Labour MP Dennis Skinner said the Conservative front bench supported the government in holding the debate in a committee.
And deputy speaker Sir Alan Haslehurst said Commons rules had been followed.
The draft regulations were debated in a 90-minute committee meeting but did not have to be debated by MPs, because they formed part of the Equality Act - two thirds of which has already been approved.
But the House of Lords will debate them on Wednesday. Ministers hope setting up the cross-party group to liaise with the Catholic Church, and showing willingness to compromise might help stave off a likely defeat in the Lords.
Tony Blair has said he could not back an opt-out for the Catholic Church, saying : "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."Tony Blair has said he could not back an opt-out for the Catholic Church, saying : "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."