Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Self-employed Adoptive Parents Statutory Support 2025-12-08

08 December 2025 · 2 other contributors

Opened by Rebecca Smith Con South West Devon

EmploymentChildren & Families

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Rebecca Smith raised concerns about self-employed adoptive parents statutory support 2025-12-08 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about self-employed adoptive parents being excluded from statutory parental pay and leave.
  • Research shows that 60% of self-employed adopters report limited leave due to lack of financial support.
  • Nearly half of self-employed adopters cited financial constraints as a reason for not adopting again.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Rebecca Smith Con South West Devon

I am pleased to have secured this Adjournment debate on statutory support for self-employed adoptive parents. Currently, self-employed adopters are excluded from any statutory parental pay, facing unique disadvantages with no financial support at the moment of taking legal and parental responsibility for a child. Self-employment is a significant part of the UK workforce, but self-employed adopters cannot access statutory adoption leave or pay. This exclusion affects not only adoptive families but also the wider functioning of the adoption system in England. The APPG’s research found that 60% of self-employed adopters reported limited leave due to lack of financial support and nearly half said it prevented them from adopting again, leading to unnecessary sibling separations. Self-employed parents often stop work altogether post-adoption due to the intensity of needs, increasing stress and anxiety levels among prospective adopters. The debate also highlights systemic issues in post-adoption support, with high waiting times for matches and reduced funding affecting children's life prospects.

Other contributors (2)
  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    In Northern Ireland, shared parental leave and pay are entitlements for adoptive parents under all legally binding work contracts. The hon. Member seeks to achieve the same across all isles.

  • Lisa Smart Lib Dem Hazel Grove

    Asked about the timeline of the parental leave review and encouraged local authorities to inform self-employed adopters about available discretionary funds.

Government Response

Government Minister

The Minister acknowledged the issues raised by self-employed adopters not having access to statutory adoption pay and highlighted that local authorities can consider making payments equivalent to maternity allowance. He stated that the parental leave review has started in July with an expected duration of 18 months, aiming to address these specific concerns. Additionally, he noted the Government’s commitment to broader adoption support through funding of £50 million from the adoption and special guardianship support fund for this year, acknowledging the challenges faced by some families due to recent changes. The Minister also mentioned a new core offer of support provided by Adoption England for adoptive families during their first 12-18 months. He emphasised that the Government is taking bold steps to transform the entire children's social care system through the Families First Partnership programme, which includes £2.4 billion funding over three years, with a focus on early intervention and mental health support.

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