§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applications he has received for the adoption of mentally handicapped children from Romania since the fall of the Ceausescu regime, showing the results of these applications;
(2) what is the policy of his Department towards the adoption of mentally handicapped children from Romania.
§ Mr. Peter LloydEvery application for entry clearance on behalf of a child adopted in Romania, or who is coming here for adoption, is considered on its merits as a matter of discretion outside the immigration rules. The main consideration is whether the proposed adoption is in the child's best interests. Only one such application has been made on behalf of a child who is known to be mentally handicapped. This application was made on 7 June 1990 and approved on 16 July. I wrote to the hon. Member about this case on 19 July.