Number of approved adoptions rises

June 19, 2002 in Fostering and adoption, Social care leaders

The rate of approval of adoptions has increased in Scotland for
the first time since 1998, according to Scottish executive
statistics.

The adoption rate for 2001 was 4 per cent up on the previous
year with only four out of the 418 applications failing to gain
legal approval. Some 99 per cent of all applications were
successful in 2001 compared with 95.5 per cent in 2000. The total
of adoption applications also increased by 13 or 3 per cent over
the same period.

Cathy Jamieson, minister for education and young people,
welcomed the improved figures and said: “I hope it will encourage
more prospective adopters to come forward.”

The time taken for approval has also become shorter. Between
1997 and 2001 the number of applications being decided in less than
60 days rose from 20 per cent to 30 per cent.

Jamieson said: “Our review of adoption policy has examined how
to modernise the system in Scotland to attract more adopters and to
provide permanent, stable homes for children in care.” The first
phase of the review is expected to be announced in the next few
weeks.