§ 9. Sir A. Meyerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can now give a more precise date when he expects to receive the report of the Committee inquiring into the law on adoption.
§ Mr. CarlisleI understand that the Committee still hopes to submit its report by the end of July.
§ Sir A. MeyerWill my hon. and learned Friend ask the Committee not to let the time table slip? Is he aware that while it deliberates, avoidable cases of heartbreak crop up at regular intervals? Surely it is overwhelmingly demonstrated that there is a need to introduce the
§ courts into the circuit so that the interests of the child may be given the same weight as the interests of the natural parents?
§ Mr. CarlisleI am sure that the Committee is aware of the importance of its work and the need to complete it as soon as possible. It produced a working paper in October, 1970. It has received evidence on the proposals set out in that paper. It is important that the Committee has the time that it feels necessary to produce well-considered recommendations on what is a very difficult subject.