§ Mrs. WiseTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which countries' adoption orders are recognised by the United Kingdom.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyAdoption orders made under the law of any country specified in the Adoption (Designation of Overseas Adoptions) Order 1973 are recognised as valid under United Kingdom statutory law. A copy of the order is available in the Library.
Adoption orders made in countries which have ratified the Hague convention on jurisdiction, applicable law and recognition of decrees are also recognised. Like the United Kingdom, Austria and Switzerland have ratified the convention.
§ Mrs. WiseTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that adoption orders made in Romania will be recognised in the United Kingdom.
§ Mrs. Virgina BottomleyAdoption orders made in Romania are not recognised as valid under United Kingdom statutory law. People who adopt a Romanian child are required, as part of the entry clearance procedures, to undertake to apply to adopt the child in the United Kingdom. The recognition of foreign adoption orders is being considered in the current adoption law review.