Adoption Numbers Target Scrapping Welcomed

5.15.59pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 18th Jan 2008

John Hemming MP, Chairman of Justice for Families, has welcomed the government's proposal to scrap the target BV163 that drives local authorities to increase the numbers of children adopted from care from 1st April 2008.

"This target was part of the cause of massive injustices. I am pleased that the government are stopping this particular aspect. It remains, however, that the government are still giving grants for adoptions (and special guardianships) that they are not giving to keep families together. This will continue to encourage local authorities to have children adopted from care rather than returning them to their families."

"The Government have kept one indicator N61 that relates to adoption. This, however, will not have the effect of forcing miscarriages of justice to increase numbers of adoptions and special guardianships."

"Although the government are getting rid of one aspect of a badly broken system it remains that there is a lot of work to be done to sort things out."