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Written question asked by Darren Jones (Labour) on Monday, 18 March 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 25 March 2024 (named day). It was answered by David Johnston (Conservative) on Wednesday, 27 March 2024 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Adoption

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of providing a formal apology to unmarried women and their children who were forcibly separated between 1949 and 1976.

Answer

The government agreed that the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) raised some important issues regarding historical adoption practices. Whilst a formal apology has not been issued, as the government did not actively support these practices, the government has publicly said sorry on behalf of society to all those affected by these practices during this period.

As the government response said at the time, successive governments have made significant changes to adoption legislation and practice to ensure that the practices reported are never repeated.

Furthermore, following the JCHR report, the department has already amended regulations to make it easier for adults to access adoption support. In addition, the department has written to local authorities, encouraging them to retain historical adoption records for 100 years instead of 75, to make access to records easier, and asking them to support access without undue delay to such records.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
19134
Session
2023-24
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Adoption Lone parents Mothers
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk