The Isle of Man Government is seeking the public’s views on a new Adoption Bill for the island.

The current law in the island relating to adoption is 36 years old. This Bill aims to modernise the legislation and bring it up to date in line with current best practice.

At the heart of the new Bill is the guiding principle that the child is placed at the centre of the decision-making process and that the welfare of the child is at the forefront of every decision taken by an adoption agency or a court.

When the current Act was drafted more babies and young children were being placed for adoption. With better contraception and single mothers no longer being stigmatised, this is no longer the case.

Most adoptions that take place now are for children who are already in the care of the Department and who are not babies. Many of them have experienced varying degrees of trauma during their early years.

The new Bill will bring the island’s adoption law more closely in line with the Adoption and Children Act 2002 of England and Wales.

Its main aims also include decreasing the length of time it takes to adopt a child and making it easier for people who have been adopted and their birth relatives to make contact with each other.

The Bill also sets out the considerations that must be applied by an adoption agency or the court when making a decision about the adoption of a child and sets out the provisions in relation to the suitability of adopters.

David Ashford MHK, Minister for Health and Social Care, said: ’By updating our legislation we are aiming to improve the adoption service for the benefit of the vulnerable children being placed for adoption both on and off the island. In this consultation we are seeking the public’s views on various provisions contained in the Bill. Your views, suggestions and opinions are of utmost importance to us.’

The consultation can be completed online at consult.gov.im or if you require a paper copy, call 642608.