ADOPTION

Early day motion 703, tabled 9 May 2000 by Hilton Dawson (Labour). Signed by 50 members.

That this House welcomes the development of national standards for adoption services and believes that the additional measures needed if more children who are looked after by local authorities are to have the opportunity of adoption are a new adoption act, effective systems for the recruitment of potential adopters, the consideration of adoption at the statutory reviews of all looked-after children, a national register of families approved as adopters and children for whom adoption is the plan, a standardised system of adoption allowances available throughout the country, an effective post-adoption service for adopters and their children and paid adoption leave; and recognises above all that adoption is a service for children in which their best interests must always be paramount.

Signatures by party: Labour 36, Liberal Democrat 9, Labour/Co-operative 3, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.