APPENDIX 10[3]
Letter from a birth relative
I am the birth mother. I am unable to find out
if she is dead or alive because Kent County Council (the adoption
agency who arranged the adoption) does not offer any intermediary
service to birth relatives.
Although I am registered on every available
list to show my agreement to be approached by my daughter if she
should so wish, this has been a fruitless effort so far.
There is no provision in the Adoption &
Children Bill, so this is my urgent request to try to change the
law so that I can obtain knowledge about her. Some birth relatives
are now elderly and this will be the last chance for them to obtain
information about their now adult adopted child.
Since 1976, an adopted person can, by law, obtain
information about their birth family, but this is no reciprocal
law for birth parents. I myself, had no control over my circumstances
and feel that I should have a right to at least the knowledge
that my daughter is alive and well—or not, as the case may
be.
The law must be changed in line with other Commonwealth
Countries before it is too late.
Please consider this matter for inclusion in
the Bill.
April 2001
3 The Committee received 98 similar representations
from birth relatives. Back
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