A lack of prospective adopters, delays in the legal system and a shunning of the permanence agenda could all be to blame for a dramatic fall in the number of adoption applications in Scotland last year.

In 2002, there were just 360 adoption applications for the whole of Scotland, compared with 418 the previous year, a drop of 14 per cent. This continues the trend of the past 20 years, during which time applications have fallen by two thirds.

Ian Millar, consultant for Baaf Adoption and Fostering Scotland, said there were several reasons for this. He said the lack of government targets for adoption services north of the border, combined with a "bit of a kick back" from the permanency movement of the 1970s and a shortage of adopters could all be factors.

The delayed second phase of the review of Scotland’s adoption system, which the Scottish executive launched last month, will look at legislation on the issue.