No assessments of parents' suitability The House of Commons gave an unopposed second reading to the proposed new law making it an offence to buy a child from abroad. The Bill has all-party support and government backing. The legislation would also stop people adopting from overseas without the approval of social services.
Adoption is illegal in the UK unless done through an authorised agency.
But there is no such restriction on adoption from overseas. It is believed that around 100 couples in the UK each year adopt children from abroad without the approval of their local authorities. In the UK, before a child is adopted the potential parents' suitablity, and the child's needs, are assessed. He says he wants to make sure only approved couples can adopt from abroad. Accused of racism and of backing lower standards of care for children adopted from overseas, he said he had once worked as a volunteer in a children's home in a developing country, which he did not name.