This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Putting Children First - McConnell Announces Adoption Review
04/04/2001
Providing a stable family environment for some of Scotland's most vulnerable children is the aim of a review of adoption services announced today by Education Minister Jack McConnell.
In the last 10 years, the number of approved adoption applications in Scotland has halved, from 900 to 450.
An Adoption Policy Review Group, to be chaired by former Sheriff Principal Graham Cox, will review adoption law and practice in Scotland and work to break down the barriers to adoption. The Group will include adoptive parents and young people who have gone through the adoption process.
Mr McConnell said:
"For too long, the obstacles to adoption have grown and the numbers of children being adopted has fallen. We have to reverse that trend.
"I am determined that more people should be able to consider providing a stable home for some of our young people. Modernising the current system and cutting through red tape can help us achieve that.
"The review will look at adoption services from the perspective of children and young people generally, but will focus initially on those within the public care system. But the Review Group won't simply be a collection of professionals. Adoptive parents and young people will have the chance to make their voices heard and shape the new proposals.
"In looking at the services the review will concentrate on:
* The place of adoption services within the spectrum of services considered for children and young people,
* The quality of recruitment, selection and assessment procedures for prospective adopters:
* The extent and quality of post-adoption support;
* The case for Scotland joining the proposed UK National Adoption Register.
"Successful adoptions mean better life chances for some of our vulnerable young people - we must offer that opportunity to everyone who needs it."
BACKGROUND
1. The first phase of the review will concentrate on services with a second phase being launched at at later date to look at the legal aspects of adoption.
2. The full text of the Parliamentary answer by Jack McConnell is as follows:
"As part of our commitment to improve the position of children and young people looked after by local authorities, I am concerned about the place of adoption services within the range of options that should be considered when their needs are being assessed. With my colleagues, I have concluded that there should be a review of adoption law and practice in Scotland focussing initially on children and young people in the care system.
"Changes in adoption law were last introduced in the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. The key change was to place the lifelong interests of the child at the heart of the adoption process. The time is now right to review the operation of the relevant provisions in the 1995 Act, including their impact upon the lives and life chances of young people within the care of local authorities.
"We have already signalled our intention to close a number of loopholes within the legislation governing inter-country adoption. The review will concentrate therefore on domestic adoption arrangements.
"I propose to set up an Adoption Policy Review Advisory Group with former Sheriff Principal Graham Cox as Convenor. The group will comprise representatives of local authorities, specialist voluntary sector agencies, children's panels and legal interests. I will also ensure representation from adoptive parents and young people who have gone through the adoption process.
"The remit for the review will be discussed with the Education, Culture and Sport and with the Justice Committees of the Parliament. I am arranging for a copy of the memorandum to both Committees to be placed today in SPICe.
"I will finalise other appointments to the Advisory Group very shortly and, subject to consultations with the Parliamentary Committees, hope to see the Advisory Group start its deliberations in the course of April and submit a first report to me within 6 months. With colleagues I will consider the findings and recommendations together with any other points made to me by the Group about possible further work that may be required.
News Release: SE0916/2001
4 Apr 2001