§ Mr. Bradfordasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions an adoption placement committee has been convened by the health and social services area boards in Northern Ireland which has drawn one or more members from the same district as the child whose adoption was being decided;
(2) if it is Government policy that adoption placement committees should 40W not include social workers from the same district of a given health and social services board from which the child, whose adoption is being decided, comes.
§ Mr. Alison[pursuant to his reply, 15 February 1980]: The membership of an adoption case committee is a matter for the adoption agency concerned. In setting up such committees an adoption agency has to comply with the provisions of section 32(1)(b) of the Adoption Act (NI) 1967 and regulation 7 of the Adoption Societies Regulations (NI) 1969. I understand that it is the practice of each health and social services board to involve in every case committee a social worker from the same district as the child whose adoption is being considered.
A consultative paper on the adoption of children in Northern Ireland was published earlier this week and any views which the hon. Member has will be welcomed by the children and young persons review group during the next three months.