§ Mr. Edwin Brooksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of adoptions legalised during the last full year for which statistics are available; and of these, what proportion of those adopted were aged between birth to six months, seven to 12 months, 13 to 24 months and over 24 months, respectively, when their adoptions were legalised.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganThe number of children legally adopted in England and Wales under orders registered in 1967 was 22,802. Of these, 4,965 or 21.8 per cent. were aged under six months, 7,205 or 31.6 per cent. were between six and twelve months, 2,033 or 8.9 per cent. were between one and two years, and 8,599 or 37.7 per cent. were over two years of age on adoption.
§ Mr. Edwin Brooksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those adopted during the last full year for which statistics are available, were adopted through third parties, and through adoption societies, respectively.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganThe preliminary results of the statistical survey by the Government Social Survey and the Home Office Research Unit of adoption applications to the courts in 1966 show that in England and Wales about 5 per cent. of adoptions were arranged by third parties, 40 per cent. by adoption societies, 17 per cent. by local authorities, and170W about 8 per cent. were direct placements by a parent. In about 30 per cent. of the applications one of the adopters, or the sole adopter, was a parent.