§ 38. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the anomaly arising from the Adoption Act, 1950, whereby a child may suffer over long periods unless the adopters of the child notify their intention to adopt to the local authority, which they are under no obligation to do unless they are in receipt of reward for the adoption; and what steps he is taking to rectify the position.
§ Mr. EdeIt would not, in my view, be reasonable or practicable to require notification of every case in which a child is placed away from home otherwise than for reward.
§ Major Legge-BourkeWhile I have some sympathy with the views which the right hon. Gentleman has just expressed, may I ask if he will get in touch with the authorities concerned to see whether there is some way of overcoming some of the difficulties which have been noticed arising out of this matter?
§ Mr. EdeThis is a matter to which I am giving my attention, but to give an affirmative general answer to the hon. and gallant Member's Question would be wrong.