§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that all local authorities are identifying those children in their care in need of long-term substitute family care and those who might benefit from being adopted in accordance with the provisions of the Adoption Act 1976.
§ Mrs. CurrieIn reaching any decision relating to a child in their care, local authorities have a statutory duty to give first consideration to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child throughout childhood; and to consider the child's wishes and feelings about any decision, having regard to age and understanding.
Sections 1 and 2 of the Adoption Act 1976 which came into force in January 1988 require all local authorities to establish and maintain an adoption service and to provide the necessary facilities or arrange for them to be provided by approved adoption societies. Adoption services are to be provided in conjunction with approved adoption 834W societies and with the local authority's other social services for children and families. This full integration of adoption into the mainstream of services for children should help to ensure that adoption is properly considered where it would be in the best interests of a child and that the necessary facilities are available so that the best choice can be made for each child and family, whether this is support for the natural family, long term foster care or adoption.
Since December 1985 custodianship has offered a further option for children needing the security of a permanent substitute family.