Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he plans to take to ensure that records of adoptions are more easily accessible by relevant parties.

The Adoption and Children Act 2002 introduced a process to help relevant parties access information on adoption records for those adopted on or after 30 December 2005. The legislation sets out that certain information relating to a person’s adoption must be kept. Once an adopted child reaches the age of 18, they can request this information from the adoption agency that placed them with their family. This will usually take the form of their permanence report. On receipt of such an application, an adoption agency will consider carefully how best to disclose this information since it will contain information about the child’s early life, some of which may be upsetting or distressing.

Individuals who were adopted before 30 December 2005 may apply to the Registrar General for information to enable them to obtain a certified copy of their birth certificate. The Registrar General must inform the adopted person of the availability of counselling services (with a requirement to attend for those adopted before 12 November 1975) before the information can be provided.

Further information is available in the Adoption Statutory Guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adoption-statutory-guidance-2013.