Top judges questioned on adoption process
27 November 2012
The House of Lords Select Committee on Adoption Legislation will have the opportunity to question senior members of the judiciary on the UK’s adoption process on Tuesday 27 November.
Witnesses
At 10.15am, Tuesday 27 November, in Committee Room 1, Palace of Westminster, the Committee, which is chaired by a former President of the Family Division of the High Court, will hear from:
- Lord Justice McFarlane, former Family Liaison Judge and now Lord Justice of Appeal, Member of the Family Justice Review
- Mr Justice Ryder, author of Judicial proposals for the modernisation of family justice, published in July this year
- Her Honour Judge Hindley
- Her Honour Judge Swindells
The Committee will be questioning the judges on:
- how the courts strike a balance between the rights of the birth parents and the rights of the child
- whether any legal obstacles currently prevent early placement with foster carers who are also approved adopters
- if a child’s ‘religious persuasion, racial origin, cultural and linguistic background’ is significant when courts make decisions about placements and adoptions
- how the 2002 Adoption Act has impacted on birth families and children and the role the court plays in the adoption process
The Committee will also ask for the judges opinions on how well the Adoption and Children Act 2002 has met its key aims of speeding up the adoption process, including widening the pool of prospective adopters; making the child’s welfare paramount during the adoption process; and extending the range of permanence orders to find the best long-term solution for the child.