Mr Ian Perroll

Email: [FOI #18507 email]

Reference: FOICR 12887/09

Date: 20 November 2009

Dear Mr Perroll

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your freedom of information request of 25 September. I apologise for the delay in replying.

You have asked:-

Please provide all figures relating to:

1) how many parents have given prior consent for adoption of their children versus how many parents objected but still had their parental rights removed i.e. 'forced adoption'; include figures relating to how many children in each group on a yearly basis.

(2) how many family members have committed suicide after losing their children to 'forced adoption' i.e. where children were taken without the prior consent of the parents for adoption.

(3) any and all figures where mothers have committed suicide or had an abortion through fear of losing their children to 'forced adoption'

The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) response is:-

You have asked for figures relating to the number of adoptions for which parents have given prior consent; and related questions relating to suicide as a result of "forced adoption".

Whilst the General Register Office (GRO), part of IPS, maintains the Adopted Children Register, this exists to register those adoptions granted by a court in England and Wales. GRO does not hold information of the type you have requested in relation to the adoptions which they register; and similarly, does not hold the information you seek in relation to suicide.

If you are dissatisfied with this response you may request an independent internal review of our handling of your request by submitting your complaint to:

Information Rights Team
Information and Record Management Service
Home Office
4th Floor, Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Email: [email address]

During the independent review the department's handling of your information request will be reassessed by staff who were not involved in providing you with this response. Should you remain dissatisfied after this internal review, you will have a right of complaint to the Information Commissioner as established by section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act.

I realise that this response may be a disappointment to you. However I would like to assure you that a thorough search was conducted and that I am confident that we do not hold the information that you asked for.

Yours sincerely

Hazel Reid

Freedom of Information Team

Passport Adviceline: 0300 222 0000 (07.00 - 23.00 seven days a week).

Email us at [General Register Office request email]. Visit our website at www.ips.gov.uk.

2

Headquarters

Parliamentary & Correspondence Management Team

8^th Floor, Globe House

89 Eccleston Square

London

SW1V 1PN

Tel (0207) 901 2426

Fax (0870) 336 9175

Email [General Register Office request email]

Web www.ips.gov.uk