While plans to improve the legal status of gay couples have been welcomed, any changes will be too late for those who have already lost a partner.

Minister for social exclusion and equalities Barbara Roche has said there is a strong case for allowing same-sex couples to register their relationships. Co-habiting couples do not currently receive the same tax breaks or entitlements that married couples enjoy, including access to a partner's pension.

Ian Burford, actor who signed a London 'partnership register' with Alexander Cannell, and Colin Hart, director of the Christian Institute, give their reactions to ministers' plans for legally-recognised civil partnerships.

Extended analysis in a question and answer format.

"It rests on equality, liberty and even society."

A spokesperson for Barbara Roche: "The Government is examining the issues of partnership recognition, rights and responsibilities in detail. Civil partnership registration raises a number of complex issues, which have prompted a growing debate within society." Roche is also expected to announce a public consultation on the issue when she addresses a conference, Equal Before the Law: Partnership Rights, on November 19.

Adrian Gillan. With equality in sight, it is therefore more important than ever that the gay community does not relax but plays the most active role possible in the consultation and debate over the coming months.

Barbara Roche will be consulting over the summer on the complex practicalities of introducing partnership registration for gay couples, and it is thought that a short bill setting out the changes could be introduced in the next session of parliament. The shadow home secretary, Oliver Letwin, indicated that the Conservatives would support the measure when legislation was introduced.

Leader. The government took a large stride in the march towards a more equal society yesterday by offering gays and lesbians the chance to have a civil partnership, which confers the same legal rights as a marriage.

Clare Dyer, legal correspondent. Same-sex partners to get property and inheritance entitlements, but new law will not extend to recognition of unmarried heterosexuals.

Michael White, political editor. The government is poised to endorse the concept of a civil partnership which will provide same-sex couples with property rights and other benefits.

Philip Hensher. The proposed measure offers a means by which commitment can be recognised, without having to ask bishops whether they approve or not.

Leader. The Prime Minister should give up his attempt to continue his two-faced appeasement of the authoritarian press. He should declare clearly that the existing law is unfair and discriminatory, and that people ought to have an equal right to make a "lifelong commitment", which is of equal value in the eyes of the law.

Paul Waugh, deputy political editor. Tory divisions on homosexual rights were reignited yesterday as some members of the Shadow Cabinet, backbenchers and peers criticised Government plans to give gay relationships legal weight.

Paul Waugh, deputy political editor. The Queen's Speech will include a bill giving gay and lesbian partners the same legal rights as married couples, providing they sign an official register of partnerships. The rights include inheritance tax exemption, pension rights and next of kin rights in hospitals.

A briefing that sets out the key issues for local government in respect of the civil partnerships bill.

Government should be congratulated for signalling an end to homosexual discrimination.

Kamal Ahmed and Gaby Hinsliff. Under the Civil Partnerships Bill to be published on 31 March 2004, same-sex couples will be able to sign a register held by the register office in a procedure similar to a marriage.

Sarah Womack, political correspondent. Reactions to the statement by Lady Morgan, the minister for women and equality, that she was considering introducing a nationwide register for same-sex partners to extend the pension and inheritance benefits that married couples receive.

Nicole Martin. Comments from those most affected: same-sex partners.

Joshua Rozenberg, legal editor. A Private Members Bill to give homosexuals and cohabitants some of the rights enjoyed by married couples will be launched this week by the Liberal Democrat lawyer, Lord Lester of Herne Hill, QC, in the House of Lords.

George Jones, political editor. The Civil Partnership Bill will allow gay and lesbian couples who register to have new legal status as "civil partners" and would acquire a package of rights and responsibilities.

Philip Johnston, home affairs editor. Lord Lester said: "I hope that the Government will also provide a framework for legal protection for all unmarried couples in long-term relationships. MPs and civil servants have protection for partners in their pension schemes, and it is only fair that they should do the same for their fellow citizens."

Francis Elliott, deputy political editor. A review led by Barbara Roche, the minister responsible for equality issues, has concluded that gay couples should be allowed to register their relationships, conferring on them the same next-of-kin, property, and inheritance rights as marriage.

Government proposals to recognise homosexual "civil partnerships" were denounced by the Pope yesterday as the legitimisation of "evil". Moves to grant legal rights to gay couples will undermine marriage and must be strongly opposed by Roman Catholic politicians, a Vatican document approved by the Pontiff said.

Ministers will bring forward a consultation document on civil partnership to present to Parliament before the summer recess.

Tom Peterkin, Scotland political correspondent. Scottish ministers yesterday tried to avoid a repeat of the furore over Section 28 when they handed responsibility for legislation that will recognise homosexual marriages to Westminster.

Andrew Sparrow, political correspondent. A senior Tory spokesman said that, although the party was in favour of tackling some inequalities faced by same-sex couples, it was sceptical about giving them "blanket legal rights". Central Office took the decision to clarify its position after Oliver Letwin, shadow home secretary, spoke warmly about the Government's proposals on Radio 4's Today programme.

George Jones, political editor. The Conservatives are preparing to demonstrate a shift to a more inclusive approach under Michael Howard's leadership by allowing a free vote on legislation giving same-sex couples similar legal rights to married partnerships.

Helen Rumbelow. A year ago they became the first women to sign Ken Livingstone's civil register. This wasn't because they wanted to be married in the traditional sense - she has, "no interest in walking up the aisle" - but because they viewed it as a first step to equal legal status.

Helen Rumbelow. Tim Brogden met his partner at a straight friend's wedding three years ago, an irony as this kind of legal union is what the couple most want for themselves.

Greg Hurst, parliamentary correspondent. The Government's position is now closer to that announced by Oliver Letwin, the Shadow Home Secretary, in response to Lord Lester's Bill. He supported steps to address grievances of gay couples but excluded heterosexuals because they were free to marry.

Anne Ashworth and Rosemary Bennett. Gay couples will win valuable tax and pension concessions if they acquire the rights that are now enjoyed only by married people. But they stand to lose out on a range of welfare benefits which, under the present structure, favour single people over married couples.

Matthew Parris. The result is a mess: a practical legal contract settling rights and duties on both parties in the way a business partnership may do, all tangled up with connotations of emotional and moral and spiritual pledges, and cultural blessing. Thus the word "wedding" has come to mean more than the making of a contract, and the word "marriage" to mean more than the keeping of it.