A baroness has blanched at Brighton and Hove's sex education classes in which, she says, pupils are taught about bondage, group sex, partner swapping and masochism.

Deputy leader of Tory peers Lady Blatch described Taking Sex Seriously, a teachers' resource pack used by city schools, as appalling.

She raised her concerns during a debate on the future of the controversial Section 28 law in the Lords, accusing the city council and East Sussex County Council's advisory team of "pushing" the pamphlet on to pupils.

Lady Blatch, a former education minister, rejects any repeal of the clause which bans the promotion of homosexuality in schools.

She said: "A more unsuitable resource it is difficult to imagine. One lesson suggests that pupils are asked to buy condoms for homework.

"Another lesson has the aim of getting pupils to think about the full range of sexual activities. Teachers are told to give a few examples to get the group thinking along the right lines.

"The suggested examples include dressing up, tying up, sadism and/or masochism, partner swapping, anal intercourse or multiple partners at one time.

"Those are just the milder examples. Decency prevents me from reading out the rest."

The councils were also attacked for recommending a controversial education video, Beyond A Phase.

Its advice includes: "Try experimenting with other boys and girls and see who you feel most comfortable with."

The eight-strong advisory team today refuted Lady Blatch's claims and David Panter, chief executive of Brighton and Hove City Council, defended use of the resource pack.

He said: "The sex education resource pack Taking Sex Seriously is one of some 13 nationally-recognised teaching resources we recommend.

"This approach gives teachers and school governors the freedom to match the teaching programme with the needs of students."

Lady Blatch also criticised city council backing for the Gay and Lesbian Arts and Media (Glam) group.

She said: "Glam published a booklet which states that 'school assemblies need to reflect lesbian, gay and bisexual anniversaries like Stonewall as well as birthdays of famous lesbians, gay and bisexual people'."

Lord Bassam of Brighton defended standards of sex education during the debate.

He told Lady Blatch: "My children go to local schools. If you were trying to scare me about the sex education in the city in which I live, you failed.

"Sex education in my local authority seems to be very well conducted."

Today he described Lady Blatch's claims as "patently absurd".

He said: "Lady Blatch has a very narrow, some might say, bigoted and rather homophobic view of the world.

"She clearly does not have any understanding of the prejudice to which Section 28 gave rise to and was part of.

"I think there is every chance the House of Lords will support the repeal of Section 28."