MSP praises Barnardos for relaunch of adoption service

EDINBURGH Central SNP MSP Marco Biagi has praised Barnardo’s Scotland for its newly relaunched adoption and placement service as figures show demand increasing.

The charity closed its adoption agency in the 1990s due to falling numbers of children requiring a permanent home.

But in a motion lodged at the Scottish Parliament, marking National Adoption Week, Mr Biagi highlighted statistics showing nearly 16,000 children in local authority care in Scotland, but only 218 adoptions last year.

The motion states that ensuring children are in stable, secure, loving homes improves both their lives and life chances, and voices the hope that more children can be placed with adoptive parents and waiting times can be brought down.

It also praises the National Adoption Register introduced by the Scottish Government earlier this year to help speed up the process of adoption and placement.