A new Bill introduced to the House of Lords this month is set to give new legal rights to unmarried cohabiting couples of all denominations - gay men, lesbians and heterosexuals.

The Civil Partnership Bill, introduced into the House of Lords by Liberal Democrat peer Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC, follows the Relationships (Civil Registration) Bill introduced into the House of Commons in October by backbench Labour MP Jane Griffiths.

The bill will give unmarried couples greater rights and protection following the breakdown of the relationship or the death of one of the partners and extend the rights of cohabitants on such issues as inheritance, pensions and tenancy.

The Bill is being well received by lobbyists across the country, with the influential Law Society claiming that the legislation is long overdue. It revealed that nearly a quarter of the population of England aged between 16 and 59 were cohabiting (24%) for the period between 1996 and 1999. However, many cohabitees mistakenly believe themselves to be a part of a 'common-law marriage', even though such a thing does not exist in modern law, and are dismayed when they are left with no call on their partner's property or estate.

The Law Society Vice-President, Carolyn Kirby, said: "The Society supports Lord Lester's Bill, which attempts to help establish proper legal protection for both heterosexual and homosexual cohabitant couples in a legally defined relationship. We will continue to campaign and lobby on this crucial issue."

The new legislation is also finding support within the Conservative party, as Shadow Home Secretary Oliver Letwin called for same-sex couples to be given some of the same legal rights enjoyed by married people. He affirmed, however, that the Conservatives did not want to support action that would undermine marriage - which he recognised as the best environment for raising children. And he also opposed amending adoption laws that would allow unmarried couples to adopt children. He pledged not to make moral judgments on individuals' sexual relationships, saying that the policy was driven not by morality but by recognition of the need to alleviate practical problems faced by unmarried couples of all denomination.

However, Mr Letwin stopped short of endorsing any form of gay marriage, saying: "We think that trying to do anything that would suggest a comparison with marriage might diminish the special character of marriage. We are much keener on the idea of trying to address practical grievances one by one and getting them sorted out." o collect their post themselves.