Family Law Aberdeen Latest News

A group of MPs have stated that they are concerned regarding the government's stance on adoption arguing that adoption should be one of a range of options” rather than the “gold standard” for children in care.

The news comes following the second reading of the Education and Adoption Bill, which encourages adoption of children in care. The bill will see adoption agencies encouraged to merge their services into regional agencies, and will allow the government to force such action if needed.

The criticism from the government’s proposals has been met with enthusiasm among some family groups and charities such as Tact, with the charity stating that the government’s focus on adoption was “unhelpful”

Adoption UK has welcomed the news that eighty eight children were adopted from care in Northern Ireland during the year ending 31st March 2013 - twenty eight more than in 2012 - according to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Harmful myths surrounding adoption are contributing to a significant shortage of adopters in Wales, according to recently released research.

The Government has recently published figures which show that around 4,000 children in care were adopted in England in 2012 - an increase of 15% and the highest ever since records began.

Adoption and fostering charity TACT has welcomed the announcement from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) that the number of adoptions made in the UK in 2012 had risen by nearly 10%. This follows an increase in 2011 of 6%.

One of the UK’s main children’s charities has highlighted the sad fact that too many children are being passed over for adoption because of individual personal characteristics, such as their age, ethnicity, disability or because they have siblings.

The Fostering Network is advising the Government against an overwhelming focus on adoption as the way to solve the problems facing the care system, and is cautioning against the use of league tables and targets.