§ Mr. DawsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what preparations are being made for the implementation of section 122 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 by the end of 2004. [164114]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 30 March 2004]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Dr. Tonge) on 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 178W.
I wish to use this opportunity to clarify something I said to the hon. Member at the Westminster Hall debate on 23 October 2003. The Department for Constitutional Affairs will be consulting on the court rules for placement and adoption this spring. The regulations, court rules and guidance should be in place by the end of 2004. Section 122 is included in this package. After a period for preparation and training, we expect the legislation to come into force in September 2005.