§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children in care have been legally adopted despite the opposition of one or both parents in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Sir George YoungI regret that the information is not available in the form requested. During the year ending 31 March 1978, some 1,600 children in England and Wales left care on being adopted. During the year ending 31 December 1978, 12,121 adoption orders were granted in England and Wales, including 773 in which the court dispensed with the agreement of a parent or guardian, but we do not know how many of these related to children in care.
§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the provisions of present legislation are not being used to allow children taken into care to be legally adopted without 421W the consent of their natural parents, except in cases in which the natural parents are unable, unfitted or unwilling to bring up such children themselves or when they cannot be traced.
§ Sir George YoungI am satisfied that the present legislation provides the proper safeguards. The Children Act 1975 places a duty on local authorities, both in respect of children in their care and in respect of children for whom they are making adoption arrangements, to give first consideration to the need to safeguard and promote the long-term welfare of the child. An adoption order can be made only by a court, and no child can be adopted without the agreement of each of his parents or guardians unless the court dispenses with agreement on one of the statutory grounds. These cover broadly the circumstances specified by the hon. Member, as well as those where the court is satisfied that agreement is being withheld unreasonably.