CLAIMS that Education Secretary Ruth Kelly is engaged in a battle with cabinet colleagues to secure an exemption from gay rights laws for the Catholic church were played down today.

A Sunday newspaper reported that Ms Kelly, a member of the Opus Dei sect, wanted the church's adoption agencies to be able to continue to turn away same-sex couples.

The Equality Act bans discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the basis of sexual orientation in a similar way to the rules on sex and race discrimination.

Catholic adoption agencies have said they fear they may be forced to allow gay couples to adopt under regulations due to be published soon.

The newspaper said that Ms Kelly had the backing of Prime Minister Tony Blair but was facing stiff opposition from other senior colleagues.

A spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government said: "We are absolutely committed to bringing forward proposals that provide effective protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation."

The Department "fully recognised" the value of same sex parents, he said.

"No decisions have yet been taken about the content of the regulations.

"We will bring forward regulations shortly and people will be able to judge them on the facts, not speculation or guesswork."