§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what performance target was set for placements resulting from the National Adoption Register; [117271]
1397W(2) how many children have been placed with new families as a result of the introduction of the National Adoption Register; [117272]
(3) what has been the total expenditure by his Department on the National Adoption Register since August 2001. [117273]
§ Margaret HodgeI have been asked to reply.
No performance targets were set for the Adoption Register for England and Wales. It is expected that the Register will help us achieve our target to increase the number of adoptions from care by 50 per cent. by 2006. We have already increased adoptions by 25 per cent. and are on course to meet our target. Given the complexities governing the placement of children with adoptive families, we did not feel it would be appropriate to set a target for the Register. Our aim of course is to provide children with placements that meet their assessed needs. The needs of the children must be paramount in the process and it is vital that the Register provides viable links for suitable families who may be able to deal with the children's often very complex needs.
In just one year the Register has become an established part of the adoption process with a national co-ordinating role. The register has generated 1,250 viable links across England and Wales that were agreed as worth exploring in detail by adoption agencies. At the end of October there had been 48 matches made between children and families. This means that there are 48 children who have found families as a result of links generated by the Register.
The Register is being operated by Norwood under a three year contract with the Department of Health and National Assembly for Wales at a total cost of £633,333 plus VAT per annum. The current contract is due to end in August 2004. We will be reviewing the impact of the Register on the delivery of adoption services over the coming months.