HC Deb 13 January 1997 vol 288 cc170-1W
Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department disseminates about its procedures relating to the granting of health certificates for inter-country adoption home study reports. [10730]

Mr. Burns

Information on the provision of the Department's inter-country adoption certificate of approval has been disseminated to all statutory authorities and approved voluntary adoption agencies in the United Kingdom, to embassies, consulates and high commissions of appropriate countries appointed to the United Kingdom, to British posts abroad, to individual adopters and to individual social workers.

Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he is giving to providing section 64 grants for a help and advice service to people wishing to adopt children from other countries. [10732]

Mr. Burns

In the current financial year £50,000 has been set aside from the section 64 general grant scheme to fund the overseas adoption helpline which provides information on inter-country adoption requirements to those interested. Section 64 funding has also been awarded to other organisations which provide information on adoption matters.

Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the applications for section 64 grant to provide a help and advice service to people seeking to adopt children from other countries. [10731]

Mr. Burns

In the financial year 1996–97 funding was provided to the Bridge child care development service for the overseas adoption helpline which provided information on overseas adoption. No application was received for an exclusive overseas adoption information service for 1997–98.

Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for which inter-country adoption home study reports his Departments' certificates have been(a) granted and (b) withheld. [10729]

Mr. Burns

The Department of Health introduced certificates in July 1992 confirming that the application to which it was attached met the statutory requirements of both the United Kingdom and the country to which the application was made. Certificates are provided for applications which have been approved by the statutory authorities in the United Kingdom. Certificates are not provided for privately commissioned home study reports.