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Councils and adoption agencies in England will have to implement the national adoption standards by April 2003, health minister Jacqui Smith announced last week, describing the timetable as "challenging and ambitious", but "achievable".

In a speech to a national Department of Health conference in London last week, Smith said: "For many children in care, adoption offers the best chance of success in life. We are committed to modernising the adoption process and to make it faster and fairer."

The standards, published in August, are part of the government's programme to improve adoption services as set out in the Adoption and Children Bill currently before parliament.

The government wants the number of adoptions of looked-after children to increase by at least 40 per cent by 2004-5. The standards include agreeing a permanency plan for looked-after children at the four-month statutory review and making a decision on prospective adopters within six months of application.

Smith also announced a consultation on finding out the number of adoptions of looked-after children that break down after an adoption order has been made, resulting in the child re-entering care.

Comments on the proposals are invited by the end of next March.

- Further information on the consultation on breakdown rates at www.doh.gov.uk/adoption/consult.htm