Hi,SADS was a matter of Parliamentary debate at Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday the 15th. July 2009.
Thanks to SADS's MP Charles Hendry for asking Her Majesty's Government in Parliament to intercede on their behalf.
Here is the extract from Hansard.
Q2. [286658] Charles Hendry (Wealden) (Con):I think that the Prime Minister will be aware of the case of a young girl in my constituency who was taken into care two years ago, at the age of five, and is now being proposed for permanent adoption, even though there is
15 July 2009 : Column 288
no suggestion that her well-being was under threat at home.
East Sussex has a very good reputation for its children’s services, but does he share my concern that too often these cases go through the courts in a manner that can do lasting damage to the child and that parents cannot ever hope to match the resources being allocated by the local authorities?
Will he have a meeting with me and others, so that we can discuss this in order to ensure that the children’s interests will be paramount and that parents can be assured of a fair hearing?
The Prime Minister:
It is of course, as the hon. Gentleman will recognise, very difficult for me to enter into a discussion of an individual case, but if it is essential, either I or a Minister will meet him to discuss this.
Local authorities are unable to place a child for adoption with prospective adopters without their parents’ consent unless they have a placement order issued by the court.
The debate that the hon. Gentleman has about what is happening in his constituency centres on that issue. I should tell him that we have tried to streamline the family courts to make them far more responsive to the needs of all concerned, particularly the children.
To see the relevant section of Hansard CLICK HERE
To view more on this case CLICK HERE
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