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Letter from Tim Loughton to the Daily Mail

4 Nov 2011 10:08 AM

Children’s Minister Tim Loughton has written to the Daily Mail responding to two articles this week stating that rules are in place about inter-racial adoption.

Dear Sir,

You are quite wrong to suggest that adoption rules on ethnicity remain in place, and it's concerning to see a further story on this in your paper on wednesday (2 November). There are no rules which bar white parents from being matched with a black or mixed-race child, or black or mixed-race parents being matched with a white child. New guidance I published in February could not have been clearer on this point. It is unacceptable for local councils still to be imposing these barriers. If there is a loving family, ready and able to adopt a child, issues of ethnicity must not stop this from happening. I cannot stress enough how determined we are to bring about radical reform of the whole adoption system, which has not worked in the interests of children in care for too long. It is not helpful when myths such as this are given continued credibility in your columns.

Tim Loughton MP

Minister for Children and Families

Further information

The Department announced new guidance in February this year which made it clear that no potential adopter should be turned away on the grounds of race, age or social background.

The new guidance is available to download from our website.

Contact details

Public Communication Unit
for general enquiries
Telephone: 0370 000 2288

Central newsdesk
for media enquiries
Telephone: 020 7783 8300