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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Gay adoption rules 'rail-roaded' | Gay adoption rules 'rail-roaded' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The government has been accused of "rail-roading" through gay equality laws that, Catholic adoption agencies argue, will force them to close. | The government has been accused of "rail-roading" through gay equality laws that, Catholic adoption agencies argue, will force them to close. |
| Some Tory MPs criticised the "unseemly haste" with which ministers sought to pass regulations through Parliament. | Some Tory MPs criticised the "unseemly haste" with which ministers sought to pass regulations through Parliament. |
| But an attempt to get them thrown out was defeated, by 310 votes to 100. | But an attempt to get them thrown out was defeated, by 310 votes to 100. |
| 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. | 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 Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations are aimed at outlawing discrimination against gay people by businesses and service providers. | The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations are aimed at outlawing discrimination against gay people by businesses and service providers. |
| No opt-out | No opt-out |
| 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. | |
| But the Catholic Church says it will have to shut its agencies, which handle some of the most difficult-to-place children, after that - rather than go against its beliefs. | |
| Profound public concern about aspects of these regulations has not been heard Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor | Profound public concern about aspects of these regulations has not been heard Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor |
| 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. | 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", adding: "Profound public concern about aspects of these regulations has not been heard." | |
| 'Unseemly haste' | 'Unseemly haste' |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| They were being moved with "extreme and unseemly haste," she said. | They were being moved with "extreme and unseemly haste," she said. |
| There is no place in our society for discrimination Tony Blair | There is no place in our society for discrimination Tony Blair |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Deputy speaker Sir Alan Haslehurst said Commons rules had been followed. And deputy minister for equality Meg Munn said later: "It's standard practice for debates on secondary legislation to take place in a delegated legislation committee. | |
| "The timing and venue for the debate was agreed between all three main parties." | |
| She said the period for considering views had been extended by five months already and there had been opportunities to raise the issues. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |