§ 74. Mr. Liptonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to provide that, where a child has been in the care of foster parents for at least five years, such child shall not be returned to the natural parents except with the consent of the foster parents and the child.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe Departmental Committee on the Adoption of Children is 85W considering the position of long-term foster parents who wish to keep a child, by adoption or otherwise, against the will of the natural parents, and my right hon. Friend thinks it right to await its report before considering legislation. I understand that the committee intends to invite comment on provisional proposals which will be published in the Autumn.