§ Ms Beverley HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the reform of adoption law to address(a) the problem of drift for children in care and (b) issues arising from inter-country adoption and the United Kingdom's responsibilities under The Hague convention. [5940]
§ Mr. BoatengPreparation has already begun to mount a series of national seminars towards the end of the year which will focus on improving the quality of management within the adoption service; the seminars will address important issues such as delay in placing children and preventing children from drifting within the care system. We are currently considering a number of possible options which will enable the Government to ratify the 1993 Hague Convention and address issues arising from intercountry adoption.