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Adoption groups believe new agencies to assist contact between adopted children and birth parents will end the postcode lottery many parents now face.

Last week, the government announced plans for registered adoption support agencies in England to act as intermediaries for adult birth relatives wishing to find their adopted children.

Charity Norcap, which has lobbied the government on the issue for more than two years, said the new regulations would ensure for the first time that all those affected by adoption would be able to access skilled intermediate services.

Currently, there are no requirements for adoption agencies to provide contact services and there is no regulation or registration of those that do.

As a result of a late change of heart by ministers, the regulations will apply to all 875,000 adoptions since 1926. When the Adoption and Children Act 2002 was introduced as a bill it contained only provision for possible reunions in adoptions made after the implementation of the act in September 2005.

But the regulations will not give birth parents or relatives the right to make direct contact with an adopted adult and no one will be entitled to information about a child under the age of 18.

Support agencies will have to obtain the "informed consent" of the adopted adult and can provide support and counselling.

Felicity Collier, chief executive of Baaf Adoption and Fostering, said: "Thousands of birth parents have waited for many years to explain to the children they gave up for adoption why they made this decision and to gain reassurance that their children are alive and well."


The consultation will close at the end of July. From www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations 

A placement in history

• There have been about 875,000 adoptions since 1926.
• The number of adoptions peaked in 1968 when about 25,000 children were adopted.
• Last year 3,500 children were adopted from care.
• It is estimated that more than 2 million people may be interested in applying to an adoption support agency or may be the subject of an application.
• The number of initial applications is likely to be high so the scheme may be introduced in two phases.