§ 10. Mr. Tinkerasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware of the desire of families to adopt children who have lost their parents through enemy action; and will he make it known how this can be done.
§ Sir W. WomersleyI have received many offers from persons willing to care for war orphans and I have been able to take advantage of some of these in 323 boarding out children for whom I am responsible under the War Orphans Act, 1942. If in any of these cases the foster parents express a desire to obtain an order for legal adoption after some considerable period, I am prepared, if I am completely satisfied that this would be in the interests of the child, to support the application to the Court.
§ Mr. TinkerI take it, then, that in cases like that the application must be made to his Department, and not to the Home Office?
§ Sir W. WomersleyYes, Sir. My Department is entirely responsible.
Mr. MurrayIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have already sent a case on to him of a foster parent wanting to adopt a child? What is the cost likely to be?
§ Sir W. WomersleyIf the foster parent is desirous of adopting, there should not be any expense at all.
§ Mr. G. StraussWhat has the right hon. Gentleman in mind when he says "after some considerable period"? What sort of time?
§ Sir W. WomersleyAfter what I consider is a fit and proper time to judge whether a child is being properly looked after and, on the other hand, whether the parents concerned are really desirous of adopting the child. Adoption, I may point out, is a very serious matter.
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonWhen adoption has taken place in this way, does the Minister divest himself of all legal responsibility thereafter?
§ Sir W. WomersleyNo, Sir; I follow out the Act of Parliament absolutely.