§ Mr. Jonathan EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations were made to the Romanian Committee for adoptions by the United Kingdom Government concerning the conditions on age of prospective adoptive parents incorporated in the agreement signed by the Department of Health on 19 March.
§ Mr. YeoThe age of prospective adopting parents seeking to adopt a child from Romania was one of more than 40 conditions contained in the draft agreement prepared by the Romanian Committee for Adoptions in January this year. They were the subject of detailed negotiations with the committee before the agreement was signed on 19 March 1992.
Discussions between the Department of Health, acting on behalf of the United Kingdom health departments, and the Romanian Committee for Adoptions took place between January and March prior to a team of officials from the Department of Health visiting Romania and continuing negotiations direct with the committee.
The conditions contained in the agreement with the United Kingdom are essentially the same as for the signatories of 11 other countries. Without this agreement in place, prospective adopters are unable to apply to adopt a Romanian child.