§ Mrs. Mannasked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent he has considered the effects of adoption orders in relation to intestacy of adopters or adopted persons in Scotland.
§ Mr. WoodburnOwing to differences in the respective laws it would not be appropriate to apply to Scotland the provisions on this subject contained in Clause 9 of the Adoption Bill, nor could the position of adopted children in Scotland under the present law of succession be suitably altered without a review of certain aspects of that law.
The Lord Advocate and I feel that on wider grounds such a review is desirable. I propose, therefore, to appoint a Departmental Committee to inquire into the law of Scotland in regard to—
and to recommend what alterations are necessary or desirable.
- (a) intestate succession;
177 - (b) the legal rights of spouses and children; and
- (c) the law of succession in relation to adopted persons and adopters—
The Hon. Lord Mackintosh, one of the Judges of the Court of Session, has agreed to preside over the Committee and the remaining members will be:—
- Mr. R. S. Brydon
- Mr. J. J. Cunningham, K.C.
- Sir Hector McNeill
- Lord Provost Ure Primrose
- Mr. R. S. Stewart, C.B.E., J.P.
- Mrs. C. J. Tudhope
- Mr. A. A. I. Wedderburn, W.S.
The Secretary of the Committee will be Mr. Gerald Black, to whom all communications should be addressed at the Register House, Edinburgh, 2.