The government is committed to working with Regional Adoption Agencies, groups of local authorities joining up to deliver adoption services, to ensure that children waiting to be adopted are placed with a loving family as quickly as possible. In 2024/25, the government supported Regional Adoption Agencies with £9 million to develop a wide range of high quality and innovative services. A key focus of their work includes action to reduce how long children wait to be adopted, with a particular focus on those children who statistically wait the longest: black and minority ethnic children; children with disabilities; sibling groups; and children aged over 4 years old. This work includes supporting regional and national adopter recruitment campaigns to attract prospective adopters from a wider range of communities and walks of life, alongside a series of innovative matching projects looking at how to improve decision making; increasing the ethnic diversity of adoption panels to better reflect the communities they serve; and regional and national activity days to increase matching by bringing approved adopters and children together in a safe environment.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4698", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Janet Daby"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewisham East"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Janet Daby"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "7476"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-10-15T12:48:46.033Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-10-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Adoption"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help tackle longer waiting times for adoption experienced by (a) disabled children, (b) Black, Asian and ethnic minority children, (c) older children and (d) children with other protected characteristics.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4471", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachael Maskell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachael Maskell"} ], "uin" : "7475"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1731518", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1731518/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The department has the deepest sympathy with everyone affected by historic forced adoption. The practice was abhorrent and should never have taken place.<\/p>
<\/p>
The department is committed to supporting adopted adults. Regulations have already been changed to make it easier for adults to access therapy, and we are providing funding to Adoption England\u2019s Improving Adoption Services for Adults project, which is designed to maintain relationships and offer support.<\/p>
<\/p>
The department will continue to review the offer, including looking to learn from the approach of the devolved nations and will consider how we can collaborate across the government to provide support.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4698", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Janet Daby"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewisham East"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Janet Daby"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-10-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-10-11T12:54:28.983Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-10-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Adoption"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Third Report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights of Session 2022-23 on The Violation of Family Life: Adoption of Children of Unmarried Women 1949\u20131976, HC270, published on 6 July 2022, if she will apologise for the historic role of the Government in forced adoptions; and if she will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on ensuring that suitable mental health support is made available for adult adoptees.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5296", "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Henley and Thame"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Freddie van Mierlo"} ], "uin" : "7239"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1727767", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1727767/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The government has not met with the Movement for an Adoption Apology and there is no meeting scheduled.<\/p>
<\/p>
My hon. Friend, the Minister for Children and Families, shares the deepest sympathy with everyone affected by historic forced adoption. The practice was abhorrent and should never have taken place.<\/p>
<\/p>
The department will look to learn from the approach of the devolved nations and explore what more can be done to support those impacted.<\/p>
<\/p>
The department is also currently funding the Adoption England project, Improving Adoption Services for Adults (IASA), which is designed to maintain relationships and provide better access to support for adopted adults.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/269", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Smith of Malvern"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Smith of Malvern"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-09-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-09-25T08:47:17.143Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-09-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Adoption"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have met, or have plans to meet with, the Movement for an Adoption Apology; and whether they have any plans to move for apologising for historic forced adoptions that during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, which affected more than 215,000 women and their children.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4719", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle"} ], "uin" : "HL781"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1726311", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1726311/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I have the deepest sympathy with everyone affected by historic forced adoption. The practice was abhorrent and should never have taken place. Moreover, the treatment that women experienced during this time was very wrong.<\/p>
Following the report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), \u2018The Violation of Family Life: Adoption of Children of Unmarried Women 1949-1976 (2022)\u2019, regulations were amended in 2023 to make it easier for adults to access adoption support. These amendments were widely welcomed.<\/p>
The department is also currently funding the Adoption England project Improving Adoption Services for Adults (<\/em>IASA) which is designed to maintain relationships and access to better support for adopted adults, including those adopted between 1940-1970.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4698", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Janet Daby"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewisham East"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Janet Daby"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-09-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-09-09T13:40:55.747Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-08-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Adoption"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department is taking steps to provide support to people who were subject to forced adoption between 1940 and 1970.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5351", "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Farnham and Bordon"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Gregory Stafford"}
], "uin" : "3654"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1696771", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1696771/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The government agreed that the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) raised some important issues regarding historical adoption practices. Whilst a formal apology has not been issued, as the government did not actively support these practices, the government has publicly said sorry on behalf of society to all those affected by these practices during this period.<\/p> As the government response said at the time, successive governments have made significant changes to adoption legislation and practice to ensure that the practices reported are never repeated.<\/p> Furthermore, following the JCHR report, the department has already amended regulations to make it easier for adults to access adoption support. In addition, the department has written to local authorities, encouraging them to retain historical adoption records for 100 years instead of 75, to make access to records easier, and asking them to support access without undue delay to such records.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4761", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Johnston"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wantage"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "David Johnston"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-27T17:19:32.647Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Adoption"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of providing a formal apology to unmarried women and their children who were forcibly separated between 1949 and 1976.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4621", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Darren Jones"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bristol North West"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Darren Jones"}
], "uin" : "19134"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1690152", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1690152/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The changes to the scope of reform of Adoption were made in March last year, as part of a wider adjustment to the court and tribunal Reform Programme. There was a need to reduce the scope of the programme, in part due to challenging operational conditions caused by the pandemic, in order to be able to ensure successful delivery.<\/p> <\/p> For Adoption, we reduced the scope to focus on the front-end digital application for cases where a child has been through care proceedings and placed for adoption. This is where the benefits for users - adoptive parents and local authorities \u2013 from having an accessible digital form were greatest. It will allow for a large percentage of adoption applications to be submitted digitally.<\/p> <\/p> The change of scope in the Adoption project meant that some of the development work on the asset was no longer required for use. The cost of this development work was £873,000, which was disclosed as a constructive loss in the Ministry of Justice\u2019s Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4004", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mike Freer"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Finchley and Golders Green"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mike Freer"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-02-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-02-23T11:32:40.387Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-02-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Adoption"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the report entitled Ministry of Justice Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, published on 28 November 2023, for what reason (a) there was a change in the scope of the Adoption project and (b) the asset being developed for that project was no longer required.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4849", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Davies-Jones"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Pontypridd"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alex Davies-Jones"}
], "uin" : "14758"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1672477", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1672477/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The department is committed to improving the support available to adopted children and their families to help them make the most of life\u2019s opportunities.<\/p> Since 2015, the Adoption Support Fund (ASF) has provided funds to local authorities and Regional Adoption Agencies (RAAs) to support eligible adoptive and special guardianship order families. The ASF helps children and their families access assessments to support understanding of their needs and a range of therapeutic interventions related to their attachment and trauma. The department has provided over £345 million in ASF funding to local authorities to provide post-adoption support to over 46,000 children since 2015.<\/p> The department is providing funding worth £5 million between 2023 to 2025 to support RAAs to develop Centres of Excellence with the aim of providing better wraparound care for adoptive children and their families. Centres of Excellence include teams of health, education and adoption support services, providing joint packages of care for adopted children. The funding is being used to develop new projects in seven RAA areas and participating local authorities will benefit from shared approaches to assessment and support.<\/p> The department is also committed to ensuring that adopted children are supported to succeed in education. Previously looked after children attract Pupil Premium Plus at a rate of £2,530 per year and they have top priority in school admissions. All maintained schools and academies must appoint a designated teacher to act as the central point of contact for adoptive families about their child\u2019s progress in school. In addition, local authorities must appoint a virtual school head to give schools and adoptive families expert advice on the education needs of adopted children, including how best Pupil Premium Plus funding can be used to support them.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4761", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Johnston"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wantage"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "David Johnston"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-12-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-12-04T17:02:51.06Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Adoption"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support she provides to local authorities to help provide post-adoption support.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4591", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sarah Olney"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Richmond Park"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sarah Olney"}
], "uin" : "3310"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1653656", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1653656/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The government set out its position on the question of issuing a formal apology when it responded to the Joint Committee on Human Rights report, \u2018The Violation of Family Life: Adoption of Children of Unmarried Women 1949\u20131976\u2019. The government\u2019s response was published on 3 March 2023 and is available at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt5803/jtselect/jtrights/1180/report.html<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4806", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Claire Coutinho"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Surrey"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Claire Coutinho"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-08-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-08-01T10:55:00.673Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Adoption"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to issue a formal apology to unmarried mothers who had their babies taken for adoption from the1940s to the1970s.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4610", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bambos Charalambous"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Enfield, Southgate"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bambos Charalambous"}
], "uin" : "194535"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1583550", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1583550/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The National Adoption Strategy, published in July 2021, sets out the department\u2019s long-term ambitions and a clear programme of reform to deliver excellence in adoption services across England. As set out in our Adoption Strategy, we remain committed to improving adoption processes, including modernising contact arrangements between birth parents, adopted children and adoptive parents, a key recommendation from the Independent Review of Children\u2019s Social Care. This strategy can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adoption-strategy-achieving-excellence-everywhere<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4806", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Claire Coutinho"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Surrey"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Claire Coutinho"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-02-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-02-13T16:51:02.167Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-02-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Adoption"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Independent Review of Children's Social Care, published in May 2022, whether she plans to take steps to reform adoption processes.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4471", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachael Maskell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Central"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachael Maskell"}
], "uin" : "139190"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1542846", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1542846/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Over £2.5 million of government funding has been invested in adopter recruitment, with further committed funding of £1 million between 2023 - 2025.<\/p> The department has worked closely with the Regional Adoption Agencies since 2019 to test new and innovative ways for adopter recruitment. This saw the launch of the #YouCanAdopt campaign in 2020. As a result, the number of approved adopters waiting to be matched with a child rose from 1,900 at 31 March 2019 to 2,620 at 31 March 2022.<\/p> The department\u2019s National Adoption Strategy sets out our aims and ambitions to build on this best practice and drive consistent, high-quality standards across the whole of the adoption process, including adopter recruitment. In March 2022, the department announced an investment of £160 million over three years to deliver the strategy.<\/p>