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Gay adoption rules 'rail-roaded' Gay adoption rules 'rail-roaded'
(1 day 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. Roger Gale said the rules had gone through "on the nod", adding: "That is not the way Parliament should be handling highly contentious business."
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. But Equalities Minister Meg Munn said standard procedure had been followed.
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 The Catholic Church says they mean it will have to shut its agencies, which handle some of the most difficult-to-place children, rather than act against its beliefs. It has been given 21 months to adjust to the new rules.
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. 'Unholy alliance'
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. But Tory backbenchers have complained that a deal between the government and their own front bench, has left little room for debate.
Profound public concern about aspects of these regulations has not been heard Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor Mr Gale said it had gone through "at a very early hour last Thursday morning, in a very small committee room, with very few members present."
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. Then he said it had appeared as the last item of business on Monday - when most MPs were not in the House.
He accused the government of "an abuse of parliamentary democracy", adding: "Profound public concern about aspects of these regulations has not been heard." "What we have got is people who don't like the decision, complaining about the process Meg Munn
'Unseemly haste' "It is clear that to this extent there was an unholy alliance between the Opposition front bench and the government front bench, that they decided it would go through in this form," he said.
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. 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.
"It's just not true that the process was anything out of the ordinary," Ms Munn told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme.
"We would have been happy as a government to have this on the floor of the House of Commons."
Vote defeated
But she said the Opposition had not requested it,
"What we have got is people who don't like the decision, complaining about the process."
An attempt by backbench Tory MPs to get the regulations thrown out on Monday was defeated, by 310 votes to 100.
Many flooded into the Commons chamber on Monday evening to raise a series of points of order about the way the regulations were being handled.
'Abuse of democracy'
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. Mr Gale, who complained the regulations were being "rail-roaded" through, said he hoped the vote would send a message to the Lords, to reject the regulations during their debate on Wednesday.
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.
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. Earlier the Catholic head of England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, has also accused the government of "an abuse of parliamentary democracy" for rushing through the regulations.
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. A cross-party working group has been set up to liaise with the Catholic Church to try to find a compromise and a way to allow Catholic agencies to keep working under the new law.
"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.
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.