Adoption

Baroness Afshar Excerpts

Tuesday 8th December 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

We have made £30 million available for the central agency fees, specifically for this category of children. The regional adoption agencies, which the noble Lord will know about because we debated them, will give these harder-to-place children immediate access to a larger pool of potential adopters.

[Baroness Afshar (CB)]

My Lords, is the Minister aware that because of the restrictions, there is an increase in adopting children abroad on the part of many families who wish to adopt but are perhaps considered too old or do not pass various criteria in this country? Those people would be very good parents for children in this country but cannot adopt them.

[Lord Nash]

I am aware of the point the noble Baroness makes. We are determined to ensure that those parents have the opportunity to adopt in this country.