Past adoption practices and the disclosure of adoption information

Various groups have campaigned for the Westminster Government to apologise for policies amounting to ‘forced adoption’ in the UK in the 1940s and 1950s. Pressure on the Government to apologise gathered momentum following a national apology in March 2013 by the Australian Prime Minister for forced adoption practices in the 1940s and 1950s in Australia.

This note provides a brief history of adoption legislation and information on historical forced adoption practices. It also provides information on mechanisms for adopted children, birth parents and other relatives to access adoption information and establish contact.

This note applies to England and Wales.