Change in adoption bill welcomed

The British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering is “very
relieved“ that the government has revised its plans to introduce
restrictions on access to birth information by adopted adults,
writes Katie Leason.

The bill originally included a provision for birth parents to be
able to stop their details being passed to their adopted child if
they had concerns. This was designed to protect a small number of
birth parents at risk, after a man with a personality disorder who
threatened to harm his birth mother.

A spokesperson from the department of health said that the bill
has been changed following evidence from stakeholders, and that all
adopted children will be able to seek out their birth certificate
through an adoption agency.

BAAF chief executive Felicity Collier said that there was
“considerable consternation” among BAAF’s member agencies at
the proposal in the adoption and children bill to remove the
automatic right of adopted adults to receive a copy of their
original birth certificate.

“This change of heart demonstrates that this government is
listening to the views of those directly affected by its proposal
and we welcome their commitment to getting this legislation right,”
she said.