§ 68. Mr. P. Thorneycroftasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that children from this country emigrating to Australia under the United Kingdom Adoption of Children Regulations Act, 1939, Section 11, paragraph 3, receive adequate protection of their interest after adoption in Australia since the arrangements made by the Australian Government for the welfare 54W of other emigrants cannot apply to these children; and whether he will consider amending the regulations which allow children from this country to be adopted by families overseas under this Section of the Act.
§ Mr. EdeThe effect of Section 11 of the Adoption of Children (Regulation) Act, 1939, and of the rules made under it is that a child may not be sent to Australia for adoption unless the transfer of the care and possession of the child is shown to be for its welfare. Moreover, an immigrant child in Australia may not be legally adopted without the consent of the Minister of Immigration, which is given only if the Minister is satisfied that adoption is in the child's best interest. Once a child has been adopted in Australia it is protected by the safeguards of the Australian law relating to the welfare of children.