Peers Speak to Adoption Advisers

Representatives from the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) and the Post-Adoption Centre (PAC) will be questioned by the Lords Select Committee on Adoption Legislation on Tuesday 3 July, in the second evidence session of their post-legislative inquiry into Adoption Legislation.

At 10.15am, the Committee will hear from John Simmonds, Director of Policy, Research and Development, Maureen Ingham, Cardiff Office and Alexandra Conroy Harris, Legal Consultant, British Association for Adoption and Fostering.

Following on, at 11.15am, the Committee will be speaking to Peter Sandiford, Chief Executive Officer and Franca Brenninkmeyer, Head of Child and Family Service at the Post-Adoption Centre (PAC).

The Committee are expected to quiz the BAAF and PAC on issues such as:

• whether adoption times are affected by the efforts made to find a ‘perfect or near ethnic match’ between adoptive parents and children;
• if they support the idea of imposing a statutory duty on local authorities to meet the supportive needs of adoptive families;
• what is known about the motivation of prospective adopters and why they may not choose to continue with the process; and
• whether public spending cuts have had an impact on the provision of post-adoption support services.

The evidence session will take place on Tuesday 3 July at 10.15am in Committee Room 3A.