Second chance for same-sex couples

MPs are to vote again over whether to give adoption rights to
same-sex couples after peers rejected the proposals last
week.

In the free vote, due within two weeks, the House of Commons is
likely to back for the second time the controversial amendment to
the Children and Adoption Bill.

Earlier this year, MPs voted overwhelmingly to broaden the pool of
prospective adopters to allow gay and lesbian and unmarried couples
to adopt.

But after weeks of debate, the House of Lords defeated the
amendment 196 to 162 over fears it would undermine the institution
of marriage and not best serve children awaiting adoption.

The bill has to be finalised before the Queen’s Speech next month.
If the amendment threatened the entire bill it would almost
certainly be scrapped.

Health minister Jacqui Smith described the Lords’ decision as
“disappointing” but said the government was still committed to
pushing through the bill.