§ Mr. DickensTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy with regard to the changing of a child's surname by its foster parents, and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Currie[holding answer 23 November 1987]: I would expect foster parents of a child in care to seek the local authority's agreement before calling the child by a different name and that as a matter of good practice this would usually be discussed with the child's family. A formal change of name, for example, by deed poll would only be made with the agreement of the parents or. if the parental rights were vested in the authority, by leave of the authority. Where a child is a ward of court, a change of name by which a child is known may properly be regarded as a step in the child's life for which the court's approval is necessary even where the child has been committed to the care of a local authority.