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Children and Young Persons Bill [Lords]

As I have pointed out to the hon. Gentleman on many occasions, there were no financial targets attached to the national adoption targets that we are talking about. Neither is there any evidence whatever that supports the contention that he has made on a number of occasions, which is that younger children becoming adopted is somehow linked to reward payments of some sort; there is absolutely no evidence whatever. I can remind the House of what Mr. Justice Wall said recently about the hon. Gentleman's campaign on some of those matters:"““My judgment is that his self-imposed role as a critic of the family justice system is gravely damaged… I find it not only unacceptable but shocking that a man in Mr. Hemming's position should feel able to make so serious an allegation””" about that particular case"““without any evidence to support it. In my judgment, it is irresponsible and an abuse of his position.””" I advise the hon. Gentleman to provide evidence.