RELIGIOUS bodies should not be exempted from new gay rights laws, the Lord Chancellor has insisted.

He spoke out amid reports that Cabinet colleague Ruth Kelly is seeking an opt-out for her Church.

Communities Secretary Ms Kelly, MP for Bolton West, was said to be engaged in an internal battle to allow Roman Catholic adoption agencies 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 rules on sex and race discrimination.

Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer said detailed regulations being discussed now should give `full effect' to that legislation, passed last year. "We have introduced laws which prevent discrimination against people on the basis of their sexual orientation - those laws should be given full effect," he said.

Discrimination

"We take the view in this country that you shouldn't be discriminated against on that basis and think that applies to everybody, whatever their religion."

Ms Kelly reportedly has Tony Blair's backing, but faces stiff opposition from other senior colleagues. A Communities Department spokesman said: "We are absolutely committed to bringing forward proposals providing effective protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation."

The Department `fully recognised' the value of same sex parents, said the spokesman.

"But no decisions have yet been taken about the content of these regulations," he added.

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

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