To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to publish the Equality Act regulations for Great Britain; and whether local authority-commissioned adoption agencies run by religious bodies will be subject to the regulations. (115804)

The Government published a consultation paper in March setting out proposals for regulations that will prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods and services. The Government will publish a response to consultation shortly, with the intention that the regulations should come into force next April, alongside part 2 of the Equality Act outlawing discrimination on grounds of religion or belief in the provision of goods and services. The hon. Member should refer to the press notices made by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Women on 29 January 2007, which have been made available in the Library.