division_name: Local Government Bill
motion: <p pid="a.348.2/1" pwmotiontext="moved">moved Amendment No. 13:</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="a.348.2/2" pwmotiontext="moved">After Clause 111, insert the following new clause&#8212;</p>
  
  <p pid="a.348.2/3" pwmotiontext="moved">"ADOPTION: CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTIONS</p>
  
  <p pid="a.348.2/4" pwmotiontext="moved">(1) No person employed by, working for or acting as an adviser to a local authority shall be under any duty whether by contract or by any statutory or other legal requirement to participate in&#8212;</p>
  
  <p pid="a.348.2/5" pwmotiontext="moved">(a) any placement under section 18 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38) (placement for adoption by agencies); or</p>
  
  <p pid="a.348.2/6" pwmotiontext="moved">(b) any application under section 49 of that Act (applications for adoption), to which he has a conscientious objection on either of the grounds specified in subsection (2).</p>
  
  <p pid="a.348.2/7" pwmotiontext="moved">(2) The grounds referred to in subsection (1) are that the placement is with, or the application is made by&#8212;</p>
  
  <p pid="a.348.2/8" pwmotiontext="moved">(a) a couple who are not a married couple;</p>
  
  <p pid="a.348.2/9" pwmotiontext="moved">(b) one person who is in fact part of a couple within the meaning of section 144(4)(b) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (general interpretation etc.).</p>
  
  <p pid="a.348.2/10" pwmotiontext="moved">(3) In any legal proceedings, the burden of proof of conscientious objection shall rest upon the person claiming to rely on it.</p>
  
  <p pid="a.348.2/11" pwmotiontext="moved">(4) A local authority shall not treat less favourably any person who relies on subsection (1) above."</p>
  
  <p pid="a.356.3/1" pwmotiontext="considered">On Question, Whether the said amendment (No. 13) shall be agreed to?</p>
  
  <p pid="a.356.3/2" pwmotiontext="divided">Their Lordships divided: Contents, 63; Not-Contents, 142.</p>