§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adoption breakdowns there have been in each of the last five years; and what plans he has for greater funding of post-adoption support and advice. [112750]
56W
§ Mr. HuttonInformation about the number of adoption breakdowns in the last five years is available in the form of the number of children who enter care as a result of adoption breakdowns. The figures do not distinguish between the adoption breakdowns of "looked after" children placed for adoption by local authorities; children placed by voluntary adoption agencies; children placed privately with relatives by birth parents; children adopted by step-parents.
Estimated numbers1 of children who started to be looked after, with reason for being looked after coded as 'adopted child—breakdown of adoptive family', England, 1995 to 1999 2,3 Year ending 31 March Number of children starting to be looked after 1995 50 1996 70 1997 60 19984 50 19994 50 1 Data are rounded to the nearest 10 2 Excludes children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements 3 Only the first occasion on which a child started to be looked after in the year has been counted 4 Estimates based on a one third sample of looked after children The Government's Quality Protects programme aims to develop a modern adoption service that is more responsive in all its aspects, including post-adoption support, to meet the best interests of children and the needs of birth parents and adoptive parents. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is reviewing with ministerial colleagues how we can build on Quality Protects, moving further and faster to secure our aim of maximising the use of adoption for all children for whom it is appropriate and also minimising delay.
The table shows the number of pre-adoptive breakdowns for the same period.
Pre-adoptive breakdown: Estimated number1 of placements for adoption ceasing during the years ending 31 March 1995 to 19992, England of which Year Total number of placements Percentage that ended in adoption Percentage that did not end in adoption 1995 1,600 80 20 1996 1,620 77 23 1997 1,560 78 22 19983 1,790 85 15 19993 1,800 82 18 1 Data are rounded to the nearest 10 2 Excludes children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements 3 Estimates based on a one third sample of looked after children