EDINBURGH (CWNews.com)

    Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to repeal Section 28, the law banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools.

    MSPs approved the move as part of the Ethical Standards in Public Life Bill by 99 votes to 17 with two abstentions. All that now remains for the Bill to become law is for it to receive the Royal Assent.

    A last ditch conservative amendment to formally enshrine the status of marriage within the new legislation was defeated by 100 votes to 20, with no abstentions. But ministers have said that marriage will be spotlighted in the legally binding guidance on sex education which will go to schools.

    Addressing the Parliament during last night's debate, communities minister Wendy Alexander said: "Repeal is not and never has been about the promotion of homosexuality in our schools. Nor is repeal about political correctness or even marriage. It is about building a tolerant Scotland."

    She added: "This bill recognizes the value of stable family life in bringing up children. Stable family life is our aspiration for all our children."

    As well as repealing Section 28, the new bill contains a range of measures for improving standards in public life, including the creation of a new Standards Commission for local government and other public bodies.

    The full debate took four hours, although the debate on repealing Section 28 -- also known in Scotland as Section 2A -- occupied little more than 90 minutes of discussion.

    Transportation tycoon Brian Souter, who has bankrolled the Keep the Clause campaign and ran a private ballot to gauge public opinion, acknowledged defeat an hour before the vote. He said: "I believe the fight has been very worthwhile. At the end of the day, the values we have fought for are priceless."

    Starting next September, schools will be allowed to teach children that there are different types of relationships and lifestyles. However, the legally binding sex education guidelines will stress "the importance of stable family life and relationships" and "the responsibilities of parenthood in marriage."

    A high-profile campaign in the House of Lords means that Section 28 remains on the statute books in England and Wales for the time being, despite the Blair government's vow to scrap it.

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