MP gathers support for fair adoption changes

The current legislation excludes self-employed people from adoption pay and adoption leave, and the MP has written to leaders from across the sector to ask them for their support in changing this in the Government’s landmark review which is being drawn up.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Hazel Gove constituency said: “There is a real opportunity here for change. I don’t think anyone would agree that it would be much fairer to have a system which didn’t exclude people based on their type of employment.

“There are many things that need to be addressed in this review, so I want to ensure that the review hears consistent support from across the sector for this change.”

The MP wrote to leaders of national and regional organisations including Adoption Counts, Adoption Matters, Barnardo’s, Family Futures and Working Families.

Lisa Smart added: “While we have heard positive words from the Government, we have had no specific commitments. I’m dedicated to making sure that they know that this is a change that is only fair, and which must happen.

“There are people desperate to start families who are being stopped by this badly written legislation. Let’s make adoption fairer and more caring.”