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Prime Minister Announces Action to Overhaul Adoption Process

The Prime Minister today announced a series of measures to promote and speed up the adoption process, as well as launching consultation on a range of further proposals as part of a wide-ranging review.

Today’s measures are contained in the latest report from the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) which was asked by the Prime Minister to look at the adoption of children from Local Authority care.

The key findings of the PIU report are that:

* Government should do more to promote an increase in the adoption of children from local authority care;
* There is scope to increase the number of adoptions each year;
* A new wide-ranging strategy is needed to deliver the service which children have a right to expect;
* The needs and rights of the child should be put at the centre of the whole adoption process.

The Prime Minister said:

“For some of the most vulnerable children who, for whatever reason, cannot live with their birth parents, adoption provides the chance for a fresh start, and the opportunity to enjoy the kind of loving family life that most of us take for granted.

“The PIU report presents a range of options for promoting greater use of adoption and for speeding up the whole process. We will be consulting widely on these options before publishing a White Paper before the end of the year outlining our new approach, including proposals for new legislation to be introduced next year.

“I am, however, determined to make early progress. It is clear from the PIU report that there are some things we can get on with quickly. I can therefore announce today that we will be taking forward action to:

* establish a National Adoption Register, to co-ordinate those waiting to adopt with children needing new families;
* draw up new National Standards which local authorities will need to follow, setting out clear timescales for making decisions about children and clear criteria for assessing adopters;
* set up an Adoption and Permanency Taskforce, to spread best practice, tackle poor performance and help all local authorities to reach the standards of the best;
* conduct a rapid scrutiny of the backlog of children waiting to be placed with adoptive families and approved adopters waiting for children, to see if any suitable matches can be made.”

Launching the report, John Hutton, Minister of State at the Department of Health, said:

“The Government is committed to modernising adoption. We need to ensure that children’s needs come first. And we need to better meet the aspirations of the many prospective parents who want to adopt. This report represents the first step in a long-overdue task of reform.

“I look forward to receiving views on the specific recommendations contained in the report as well as on its overall approach.”

7th July 2000

Notes for editors:

* The Prime Minister announced in February this year that he was going to lead a review of adoption policy. A working group, chaired by John Hutton MP, Minister of State at the Department of Health, was established to support the review.
* Media copies of the PIU report are available from Department of Health press office (020 7210 5228). The report can also be viewed on the PIU website at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/innovation
* Comments on the report should be sent, by 6th October, to:

Room 122
Department of Health
Wellington House
133-155 Waterloo Road
London SE1 8UG