Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Third Report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights of Session 2022-23 on The Violation of Family Life: Adoption of Children of Unmarried Women 1949–1976, HC 270, published on 15 July 2022, if she will make a formal apology on behalf of Government to those people impacted by forced adoptions between 1949 and 1976.

​​​This abhorrent practice should never have taken place, and our deepest sympathies are with all those affected.

​We take this issue extremely seriously and continue to engage with those affected to provide support.

​The department continues to follow up on the 2022 Joint Committee on Human Rights report, including improving access to adoption records, enhancing intermediary services and preserving historical records.