HC Deb 04 August 1966 vol 733 cc665-6
17. Mr. St. John-Stevas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Her Majesty's Government intends to introduce legislation to remedy the anomalies in the law governing the adoption of children.

Miss Bacon

My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans for legislation, but he will be glad to consider any specific proposals the hon. Member has in mind.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

Will he, or she, consider this proposal, namely, that the period of possession of the child which must elapse before the adopting parents can make an application for an order be reduced, since this is a period of great anguish and anxiety for them?

Miss Bacon

I realise that it is a period of very great anguish, although there are two points of view on this matter. We all know of cases in which the mother agrees to her child being adopted while she is in an emotional state after the birth of the child and wishes to retain it afterwards. We are considering this matter and will look at proposals made to us.

Mr. Abse

As there is so much concern about this aspect of the matter, about third-party adoptions and general procedure, is it not time that consideration was given to the appointment of an informed committee to investigate what is a very difficult problem and one upon which there are so many views?

Miss Bacon

This is an interesting suggestion which we will consider. As my hon. Friend knows, the National Bureau for Co-operation in Child Care is at this moment conducting a national study of adoption sponsored by the Home Office. A great deal needs to be learnt about this very difficult problem. But we will listen to views which anyone has.

Mr. Hogg

Will the right hon. Lady bear in mind that there are not two but three points of view about this matter? The third is the interest of the child which is all too often forgotten in the war between two prospective homes.

Miss Bacon

I agree with the right hon. and learned Gentleman that the welfare of the child should be the primary consideration.

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