§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received about the Statutory Paternity Pay (Adoption) and Statutory Adoption Pay (Adoption from Overseas) Regulations. [107789]
§ Alan JohnsonThe Statutory Paternity Pay (Adoption) and Statutory Adoption Pay (Adoption from Overseas) Regulations set out how Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay will apply to those adopting a child from overseas. This scheme is broadly the same as that for domestic adopters but for practical reasons there are some technical changes.
We held three formal public exercises on the scheme for domestic adopters—on the initial Work and Parents Green Paper, on subsequent detailed framework documents and finally on draft regulations—as well as holding numerous meetings at both ministerial and official level with the key interested parties.
As part of our formal consultation on the domestic adoption provisions, we asked interested parties to give us any suggestions for the overseas adoption process. We have since been working closely with those who identified themselves—including adoption agencies and adoption support groups, employer groups, specialist lawyers, the Inland Revenue and the Department of Health to devise a suitable way to apply the legislation to those who adopt a child from overseas.