This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Adoption and fostering
11/09/2003
A discussion paper published today will enable families
and professionals to contribute their views on the future
of adoption and fostering legislation.
The paper
Choices for Children in Fostering and
Adoption identifies key questions for the Adoption
Policy Review Group to examine.
The group's remit is to recommend changes in the law of
adoption and fostering and current practice in order that
the system be brought up to date and where appropriate
simplified so that the best outcome is provided for some of
Scotland's most vulnerable children who, for whatever
reason, require to be brought up by persons other than
their natural parents.
Review group chairman Sheriff Principal Graham Cox
said:
"This paper is the work of the expert legal adviser
appointed to assist the group. It is designed to help
everyone with an interest in these children to make a very
real contribution to this review. Current adoption
legislation dates from the 1970s and may not fully meet
modern needs.
"The paper poses a series of questions in relation to
the complex legal aspects of adoption and fostering. It
questions whether we should consider alternatives to
adoption, for example by introducing a form of enhanced
residence order.
"It will also look at issues such as contact and
information rights for children and their birth families
after an adoption order has been made. It looks at ways in
which the whole process can be speeded up so that children
are received into permanent homes as quickly as possible
once it is clear this is necessary.
"These and others are tough questions. They need to be
asked now and they need to be answered soon. The group
hopes that as many respondents as possible will give them
the benefit of their experience and of their views on these
and other questions and thus help the group to make the
right recommendations when it comes to write its report to
Ministers."
The discussion paper on legal issues was written by
Alexandra Plumtree who is the independent legal adviser to
the Adoption Policy Review.
The review group includes a range of expert voices from
legal and professional groups as well as those with a
background in the Hearings system or direct experience of
the adoption system.
It is divided into three sub-groups thus enabling a more
focused approach to the complex legal issues. Sheriff
Principal Cox chairs sub-groups on the legal framework and
legal processes and Penny Simpson chairs the subgroup on
children's hearings. It is expected the group will take
around 18 months to carry out its work before making
recommendations to Ministers.