Written question asked by Nicholas Brown (Labour) on Monday, 23 May 2016, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 25 May 2016. It was answered by Edward Timpson (Conservative) on Thursday, 26 May 2016 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Intercountry Adoption

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans the Government has to amend adoption rules to facilitate the adoption of children resettled under the Immigration Act 2016.

Answer: The Government has no plans to amend adoption legislation to facilitate the adoption of children resettled under the Immigration Act 2016. The United Nations and other humanitarian charities advise that no new adoption applications should be considered in the period after a disaster or from a war zone before the authorities in that State are in a position to apply the necessary safeguards. This is because it is not uncommon in an emergency or unsettled situation for children to be temporarily separated from their parents or other family members who may be looking for them. So whilst some lone refugee children may come to the UK for temporary care, we would wish to support them to be reunited with their parents or other relatives where this is possible.

Secondary information