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Adoption: Support for Birth Families
17 November 2022
Lead MP
Chi Onwurah
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
Mental HealthChildren & FamiliesLocal Government
Other Contributors: 2
At a Glance
Chi Onwurah raised concerns about adoption: support for birth families in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The MP raised concerns about the adoption process, highlighting its impact on birth parents who are often in challenging circumstances. She commended a local charity, Families in Care, for providing crucial support to these parents and discussed the need for more robust data collection on this issue. The MP also called for greater Government support for such charities and better policies to ensure that all involved parties uphold child-centric principles during adoption.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Emphasised the importance of support for birth parents throughout the care process.
Rachael Maskell
Lab
York Central
Asked about the expansion of peer-to-peer mentoring services and data collection on adoption trends.
Government Response
The Minister acknowledged the importance of supporting birth parents and adopted children, highlighting existing legal frameworks and policies. She noted that local authorities have a duty to prefer family and friends' care over adoption unless necessary. The response included discussions on legal representation for birth parents, counselling services offered by agencies, and the establishment of regional adoption agency leaders with a focus on improving contact services between birth parents and adopted children. The Minister also mentioned ongoing work on early family help systems and the court process reforms to make them less adversarial.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.