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| Blair defends gay adoption laws | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Tony Blair has defended planned gay equality laws, amid criticism they are being "rail-roaded" through Parliament. | Tony Blair has defended planned gay equality laws, amid criticism they are being "rail-roaded" through Parliament. |
| Tory MP Bill Cash said Mr Blair had treated the Commons with contempt and put gay rights above religion. | Tory MP Bill Cash said Mr Blair had treated the Commons with contempt and put gay rights above religion. |
| The prime minister said there had been a "very full debate" and accused Mr Cash of backing discrimination. | The prime minister said there had been a "very full debate" and accused Mr Cash of backing discrimination. |
| The House of Lords is debating the new regulations, which would force Catholic agencies to consider gay couples as prospective parents. | |
| At prime minister's questions, backbencher Mr Cash told Mr Blair: "You have given more preference to those who stand for gay rights than those who are concerned with conscience, with family and with religion." | At prime minister's questions, backbencher Mr Cash told Mr Blair: "You have given more preference to those who stand for gay rights than those who are concerned with conscience, with family and with religion." |
| 'Difficult balance' | 'Difficult balance' |
| But Mr Blair responded there had already been much debate, adding: "There is a basic choice: you take the view that there should be discrimination against gay people in respect of this." | But Mr Blair responded there had already been much debate, adding: "There is a basic choice: you take the view that there should be discrimination against gay people in respect of this." |
| As Mr Cash protested, Mr Blair said: "That is the impact of voting against the regulations." | As Mr Cash protested, Mr Blair said: "That is the impact of voting against the regulations." |
| He agreed it was a "difficult balance to strike" but said he thought the government had found the right balance. | He agreed it was a "difficult balance to strike" but said he thought the government had found the right balance. |
| Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said the church was abiding by its principles | Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said the church was abiding by its principles |
| The government has refused to grant Catholic agencies an opt-out, but will give them a 21-month transitional period to prepare for the new laws. | The government has refused to grant Catholic agencies an opt-out, but will give them a 21-month transitional period to prepare for the new laws. |
| The hope is that extra time would allow expertise and knowledge to be passed onto the secular sector, rather than being lost altogether. | The hope is that extra time would allow expertise and knowledge to be passed onto the secular sector, rather than being lost altogether. |
| Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the most senior Catholic in England and Wales, has said it "remains to be seen" whether the church will cooperate. | Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the most senior Catholic in England and Wales, has said it "remains to be seen" whether the church will cooperate. |
| 'Abuse of democracy' | 'Abuse of democracy' |
| Last week he accused the government of an "abuse of parliamentary democracy", for not discussing the Equality Act regulations in the House of Commons. | Last week he accused the government of an "abuse of parliamentary democracy", for not discussing the Equality Act regulations in the House of Commons. |
| But the government said standard procedure had been followed. As the draft regulations formed part of the Equality Act, two thirds of which had already been approved, MPs did not have to debate it. | But the government said standard procedure had been followed. As the draft regulations formed part of the Equality Act, two thirds of which had already been approved, MPs did not have to debate it. |
| The Catholic Church says it will have to shut its adoption agencies, which handle some of the most difficult-to-place children, rather than act contrary to its beliefs. | The Catholic Church says it will have to shut its adoption agencies, which handle some of the most difficult-to-place children, rather than act contrary to its beliefs. |
| The Catholic church wishes to abide by its principles that the best way - or the best manner - is to place them with a family, with a father and with a mother Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor | The Catholic church wishes to abide by its principles that the best way - or the best manner - is to place them with a family, with a father and with a mother Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor |
| Speaking to the BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Cardinal Murphy O'Connor said the church had the interests of children at heart. | Speaking to the BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Cardinal Murphy O'Connor said the church had the interests of children at heart. |
| "The Catholic Church wishes to abide by its principles that the best way - or the best manner - is to place them with a family, with a father and with a mother," he said. | "The Catholic Church wishes to abide by its principles that the best way - or the best manner - is to place them with a family, with a father and with a mother," he said. |
| "What we're dealing with is a crucial question indeed for democracy in this country because it highlights the part that is played by voluntary agencies for the public good." | "What we're dealing with is a crucial question indeed for democracy in this country because it highlights the part that is played by voluntary agencies for the public good." |
| The Church of England's General Synod has written to bishops in the Lords asking them to oppose the measures in Wednesday's debate. | The Church of England's General Synod has written to bishops in the Lords asking them to oppose the measures in Wednesday's debate. |
| The Equality Act is due to come into effect in England, Wales and Scotland in April. | The Equality Act is due to come into effect in England, Wales and Scotland in April. |
| It outlaws discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the basis of sexual orientation. | It outlaws discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the basis of sexual orientation. |