Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to continue the funding and support they give to First4Adoption, the national information service for people interested in adopting a child in England.

First4Adoption has operated under the Department for Education’s National Gateway for Adoption contract since its launch in 2012. The contract ends on 31 March 2018. The department intends to ensure that materials developed under the contract remain free to access so that prospective adopters can still benefit from this information.

The government continues to invest in adoption through the development of Regional Adoption Agencies, as well as announcing 16 new Practice Improvement Fund projects last year. The government also supports the Adoption Support Fund, which has provided more than £66 million to support thousands of families since launching in May 2015.