Press Association Thursday January 25, 2007 12:03 PM
The Government will bring forward proposals to resolve the dispute over adoption by gay couples next week, Prime Minister Tony Blair said.
Reports on Thursday suggested that Mr Blair had "caved in" to Cabinet colleagues who do not want to see any exemption for Catholic adoption agencies from new regulations which will require them to offer babies to same-sex couples.
But in a statement released by 10 Downing Street on Thursday, Mr Blair said the issue remains to be resolved.
He said he will work to find a solution that ends discrimination against gays and also ensures the protection of vulnerable children receiving help with adoption and after-care from Catholic agencies.
Mr Blair said: "There is one last aspect within the new regulations to resolve and it concerns adoption.
"I have always personally been in favour of the right of gay couples to adopt.
"Our priority will always be the welfare of the child."
He added: "Both gay couples and the Catholic agencies have a high level of success in adopting hard-to-place children. It is for that reason we have taken time to ensure we get these regulations right.
"How do we protect the principle of ending discrimination against gay people and at the same time protect those vulnerable children who at the present time are being placed through, and after-care provided by, Catholic agencies, who everyone accepts do a great job with some of the most disturbed youngsters.
"We will announce a decision next week and then vote, probably next month. I am committed to finding a way through this sensitive and difficult decision."