Our Ref: FOI/VN/iw10/7/37818

5 August 2010

Dear Ms Moore

Freedom of Information Act Appeal ref. iw10/7/37818 (Request ref. iw10/6/4160)

Further to previous correspondence, I am now in a position to respond to your internal appeal with respect to your above referenced request for information. In accordance with council policy, I have carried out a review of your request, and initial reply, as an officer independent from the initial decision.

Your request related to “how many children were forcibly adopted (against parental consent and wishes) since 2006”. A reply was sent to you on 21 July explaining that due to the low figures involved, and the risk of individuals being identified, the information was exempt under Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act, which protects personal information.

I have spoken to colleagues in the relevant service area, to assist in clarifying the information requested. The council is required to maintain certain records for statistical purposes. These include records relating to children who have been adopted where consent has been dispensed with and we consider this to be the type of record that is relevant to your request. I note your request relates to numbers of adoptions, and not personal details. In view of the Island being a small local community, and in light of the small numbers involved, we have had to consider the likelihood of individuals being identified, and therefore the potential for harm to be caused.

You have requested the numbers of children `forcibly' adopted since 2006. Having checked the information with relevant colleagues, we are of the opinion that there is no risk in disclosing the total number of such adoptions over the past 4 years. I can therefore confirm that since 1 April 2006, 10 children have been adopted where consent has been dispensed with.

I trust this information satisfies your request/appeal. However, if you are at all dissatisfied with the way in which the council has dealt with your request, and appeal, you have the right of further appeal to the Information Commissioners Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.(www.ico.gov.uk).

Yours sincerely

Vanda Niemiec (Miss)

For Director of Corporate Services

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