Working parents are being charged up to £19,000 a year to send their children to nursery — more than the fees for some of Britain’s most prestigious public schools.

Around 700 voluntary and community sector organisations will share a £23.9 million pot of government grants, Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis announced today.

Prime Minister Tony Blair says there will be “no exemption” from new gay rights laws for faith-based adoption agencies, but rules will not come “fully” into force until the end of 2008. Until then there will be a “statutory duty” for religious agencies to refer gay couples to other agencies, he added.

{mosimage}Mr Blair’s official spokesman said the statement reflected the Government’s position, and the Commons would not be given a free vote.

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly, a prominent catholic who was thought to be demanding exemptions for the church, greeted the announcement as a “breakthrough” that should be “welcomed by everyone”.

In a statement, Ms Kelly said the approach represented “a positive breakthrough in eliminating discrimination while recognising the need for a practical approach that ensures the most vulnerable children are found loving homes”.

She said “This approach should be welcomed by everyone on what has been an extremely complex issue. I have met a broad range of those with a direct interest in these regulations and each has had passionately held views, expressed with real conviction.”

The costs of educating children with special needs privately risk spiralling out of control, with little indication of whether the money spent represents good value, research from the Audit Commission suggests.

Prison overcrowding is jeopardising efforts to rehabilitate violent and sex offenders, the Chief Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales will warn. Anne Owers’ annual report is expected to say there is not enough space to find the “right” jails to rehabilitate those serving indeterminate sentences.

Lone parents could face cuts to their benefits, under government plans. Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton is expected to announce proposals to encourage lone parents into jobs instead of relying on benefit.

Greedy middle-aged sons and daughters are the people most likely to rob their parents of money, valuables and even their homes, according to a report today. The findings, published by Action on Elder Abuse, are based on a study of calls to the charity’s helpline last year.

Britain’s army of alternative therapists is to be regulated by the Government under a crackdown on medical professionals who physically and sexually abuse their patients.

The Government must introduce permanent measures to ensure fewer non-violent, low-level offenders are jailed, a crime reduction charity has urged.

When the Archbishop of Canterbury supported the Catholic Church in the gay adoption row last week, many were surprised. Dr Rowan Williams, usually considered a moderniser, was criticised by liberals for asking Tony Blair to exempt Catholic adoption agencies from Government regulations – being introduced in April – which will force all agencies to offer children for adoption to gays.