This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/dec/20/peers-michael-gove-race-adoption

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Peers rubbish Michael Gove claim over race barrier to adoption Peers rubbish Michael Gove claim over race barrier to adoption
(35 minutes later)
Michael Gove is facing pressure to rethink plans on adoption reform after peers rubbished his claim that politically correct social workers routinely abandon ethnic minority children to care to avoid placing them with white parents.Michael Gove is facing pressure to rethink plans on adoption reform after peers rubbished his claim that politically correct social workers routinely abandon ethnic minority children to care to avoid placing them with white parents.
A pre-legislative review of proposed changes to the Adoption and Children Act 2002 slaps down the suggestion that social workers routinely make politically motivated decisions, detrimental to vulnerable children.A pre-legislative review of proposed changes to the Adoption and Children Act 2002 slaps down the suggestion that social workers routinely make politically motivated decisions, detrimental to vulnerable children.
It calls on the secretary of state to scrap one of his key ideas, a proposed change in the law lifting the obligation on social workers to give "due consideration" to race, religion and ethnicity when assessing a proposed adoption.It calls on the secretary of state to scrap one of his key ideas, a proposed change in the law lifting the obligation on social workers to give "due consideration" to race, religion and ethnicity when assessing a proposed adoption.
Announcing new guidelines this year, Gove claimed: "Edicts which say children have to be adopted by families with the same ethnic background and which prevent other families adopting because they don't fit leftwing prescriptions are denying children the love they need. This misguided nonsense punishes those who most need our help."Announcing new guidelines this year, Gove claimed: "Edicts which say children have to be adopted by families with the same ethnic background and which prevent other families adopting because they don't fit leftwing prescriptions are denying children the love they need. This misguided nonsense punishes those who most need our help."
His subordinate, the children's minister Edward Timpson, added: "We will tackle the absurd barriers to mixed-race adoption which trap many non-white children in care."His subordinate, the children's minister Edward Timpson, added: "We will tackle the absurd barriers to mixed-race adoption which trap many non-white children in care."
But unveiling the report of the cross-party select committee on adoption legislation, Lady Butler Sloss said: "We have heard evidence that delay is sometimes caused by the search for a perfect ethnic match, although it is unclear how widespread the problem is. Overall, the evidence we have received does not suggest that this is such a significant problem that legislative change is necessary."But unveiling the report of the cross-party select committee on adoption legislation, Lady Butler Sloss said: "We have heard evidence that delay is sometimes caused by the search for a perfect ethnic match, although it is unclear how widespread the problem is. Overall, the evidence we have received does not suggest that this is such a significant problem that legislative change is necessary."
Peers, who heard from a range of experts including Barnardos, unions and Gove's adoption tsar, Martin Narey, say lesser measures may be desirable to avoid the attachment of excessive weight to race, religion and culture. But they say robbing social workers of the ability to give the issue "due consideration" would be harmful and imply that it deserved no weight at all. "There is concern about the message this legislative change could send out to social workers on the ground." Peers, who heard from a range of experts including Barnardo's, unions and Gove's adoption tsar, Martin Narey, say lesser measures may be desirable to avoid the attachment of excessive weight to race, religion and culture. But they say robbing social workers of the ability to give the issue "due consideration" would be harmful and imply that it deserved no weight at all. "There is concern about the message this legislative change could send out to social workers on the ground."
The committee adds: "We accept that it is important to ensure that appropriate weight is given to religion, race, language and culture when making adoption matches. However, we believe that the government need to give further consideration to the practical effect of the proposed change … on social work culture and practice."The committee adds: "We accept that it is important to ensure that appropriate weight is given to religion, race, language and culture when making adoption matches. However, we believe that the government need to give further consideration to the practical effect of the proposed change … on social work culture and practice."
The government published draft legislation last month, promising to "reform the adoption system to remove barriers and reduce delay so that all children for whom adoption is in their best interests can be placed quickly with adoptive families".The government published draft legislation last month, promising to "reform the adoption system to remove barriers and reduce delay so that all children for whom adoption is in their best interests can be placed quickly with adoptive families".
There is wide agreement that the system requires reform, and some support for the government's view that by far the most important criteria for an adoptee is a loving family, with other matters a distant second.There is wide agreement that the system requires reform, and some support for the government's view that by far the most important criteria for an adoptee is a loving family, with other matters a distant second.
But critics accuse ministers of disregarding the complexities. "Most professionals – and not just those whose work is specific to race – have been telling them that the law shouldn't be changed," said Ratna Dutt, of the Race Equality Foundation. "The government needs to listen and recognise that as it stands, the law does not regard race and culture as paramount."But critics accuse ministers of disregarding the complexities. "Most professionals – and not just those whose work is specific to race – have been telling them that the law shouldn't be changed," said Ratna Dutt, of the Race Equality Foundation. "The government needs to listen and recognise that as it stands, the law does not regard race and culture as paramount."
She said the main reason black children spent more time in care was that they tended to be older or required placement in sibling groups.She said the main reason black children spent more time in care was that they tended to be older or required placement in sibling groups.
Sue Kent, of the British Association of Social Workers, applauded the select committee for being "aware of the importance of background and ethnicity and culture in a child's identity". She said: "Gove and the government must really look again at how they are pushing this agenda forward. It is too fast and they need to think good practice."Sue Kent, of the British Association of Social Workers, applauded the select committee for being "aware of the importance of background and ethnicity and culture in a child's identity". She said: "Gove and the government must really look again at how they are pushing this agenda forward. It is too fast and they need to think good practice."
The position taken by peers is doubly embarrassing for Gove because the thrust of his argument has also been disputed by Ofsted. An Ofsted review this summer concluded that there was "little evidence" of the problem as defined by the secretary of state.The position taken by peers is doubly embarrassing for Gove because the thrust of his argument has also been disputed by Ofsted. An Ofsted review this summer concluded that there was "little evidence" of the problem as defined by the secretary of state.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We are overhauling the adoption system to get more children out of care and into loving, stable family homes where adoption is the plan for them. Our plan to change the law so that black and minority ethnic children are not left waiting in care longer than necessary – because adults want a perfect ethnic match – is just one of the barriers we're removing to improve adoption prospects. Councils will still take ethnicity into account, but it will not be a barrier. We will respond to the committee's report shortly."A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We are overhauling the adoption system to get more children out of care and into loving, stable family homes where adoption is the plan for them. Our plan to change the law so that black and minority ethnic children are not left waiting in care longer than necessary – because adults want a perfect ethnic match – is just one of the barriers we're removing to improve adoption prospects. Councils will still take ethnicity into account, but it will not be a barrier. We will respond to the committee's report shortly."