Welcome Government decision on gay adoption

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 29th Jan 2007

Commenting on Tony Blair's announcement that there will be no exemption from anti-discrimination laws for Catholic adoption agencies, Dr Evan Harris MP, Liberal Democrat member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, said:

"The real problem here is that the Government is providing a single take it or leave it option for MPs on the whole of the regulations. It will be vital that the Government does not provide any other exemptions from discrimination to religious organisations beyond those provided in the Northern Ireland regulations.

"This is the first time that the Labour party has stood up to the united lobbying of religious organisations seeking special treatment in public policy matters and that is a welcome new development."