§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the impact of adoption on inheritance rights. [17388]
§ Mr. BowisUnder the Adoption Act 1976, an adopted child's links with his birth family are severed and he is treated as the legitimate child of the adopter. He is therefore entitled to inherit only from the adoptive parent and adoptive family. An adopted person does not have legal entitlement to inherit from a birth parent unless his interest has been vested before the adoption order is made. Where interest is only contingent, that interest will be lost on adoption. The proposed Adoption Bill will include a provision to give the court discretion to allow an adopted child to retain a contingent interest—or part of it—in his birth family's property after adoption.
§ Mr. CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the findings of the Government's White Paper published in 1992 recommending changes to the existing adoption law. [17390]
§ Mr. BowisFollowing publication of the White Paper "Adoption: The Future" in November 1993, a draft Bill is being prepared for consultation and will be available shortly.