Prime Minister Tony Blair has insisted the government would press on with its plans to repeal the controversial Section 28 ban on the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities.

Last week, peers defeated the government's proposals for guidelines to promote stable relationships and families in schools, written as a compromise to placate the pro-Section 28 lobby.

It was the second defeat for the government in the House of Lords over the issue.

Mischievous propaganda

The subject was raised during prime minister's questions when Conservative leader William Hague asked if press reports were correct in saying the government was ready to drop its repeal if the legislation was defeated again.

"No it's not," said Mr Blair. "We remain committed to the repeal of it and in particular remain absolutely set against the mischievous propaganda campaign run against this that has suggested that in some way by repealing Clause 28 children in our schools are going to have their sex education lessons changed.

"That is completely untrue. Since 1994 under the previous government Section 28 has not applied to schools in England and Wales."

But Mr Hague responded: "If you are not willing to back down on this why do you have your ministers running around telling newspapers that he's are heartily sick of the issue and ready to give up on the whole thing?

"Isn't it because he likes to say different things to different people at the same time just so he can fool all of the people all of the time.

"Just so we know what we have to do to get him to back off from this politically correct nonsense, will you tell us if the Lords defeat it one more time will he abandon it?"

Mr Blair replied: "We remain committed to its repeal," and stressed that if Section 28 were repealed no child would be forced to take part in gay sex lessons.

Sex education

"There is one reason and one reason only why people are concerned about the repeal of Clause 28, because they are being told that it affects sex education in schools," said Mr Blair.

He added: "Sex lessons in schools will carry on being the prerogative of teachers, parents and governors. Parents will carry on having the right to withdraw their children from those sex education lessons."

Mr Hague suggested the government should be using its time to deliver services rather than "pet political projects of the Labour Party".

"Why don't you listen to the common sense of the great majority of the country and abandon this now before it gets to the Lords?"