Regulation 15 Adoption and fostering agencies

(1)

Paragraph (2) applies to a voluntary adoption agency or fostering agency that —

(a)

is an organisation of the kind referred to in regulation 14(1), or

(b)

acts on behalf of or under the auspices of such an organisation.

(2)

Subject to paragraph (3), during the period from the commencement of these Regulations until 31^st December 2008, nothing in these Regulations shall make it unlawful for such a voluntary adoption agency or fostering agency to restrict the provision of its services or facilities to a person on the grounds of his sexual orientation.

(3)

If such a voluntary adoption agency or fostering agency restricts the provision of those services or facilities as mentioned in paragraph (2), it must at the same time refer the person seeking them to another person who the agency believes provides similar services or facilities to persons of his sexual orientation.

(4)

Paragraph (2) permits a restriction only if imposed —

(a)

if it is necessary to comply with the doctrine of the organisation, or

(b)

so as to avoid conflicting with the strongly held religious convictions of a significant number of the religion’s followers.