HC Deb 27 November 2000 vol 357 cc471-2W
Ms Shipley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the UK will ratify The Hague Convention on International Adoptions. [140191]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 24 November 2000]: The United Kingdom signed the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption in January 1994. Preparations are in hand in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ratify in 2001.