Mr. John David Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what facilities exist for adopted persons to identify and locate their natural parents; if he proposes any new legislation in this respect; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeedhamEach adopted person is listed in the adopted children register and the register of births, linked by a further record. Section 23 of the Adoption Act (NI) 1967 prohibits the disclosure of information from this record which would enable an adopted person to link his entry in the adopted children register with the corresponding entry in the register of births except by authority of a court order. However, an adopted person with sufficient independent information to identify the entry in the register of births may obtain his original birth record which identifies his natural parents. The question of locating his natural parents is a matter for the person himself to pursue.
A proposal for a draft Adoption (NI) Order, which was published for consultation on 20 October 1986, includes provision to give all adopted adults full access to their original birth records.