§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she plans to take to increase the confidentiality of adoption registration data and to guarantee a standard, controlled procedure through which birth relatives may seek to re-establish contact with adopted adults; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. BowisThe means already exist for adopted adults and their birth parents or relatives to make contact by using the Adoption Contact Register, established in May 1991 and operated by the registrar general. I am studying the judgment of the Court of Appeal of 21 March concerning disclosure of information from the index to the Adopted Children's Register and will consider with the registrar general how best to reconcile access to the register with the need to protect confidentiality.