Broad support for new Island adoption laws

There's good support for plans to update the Isle of Man's adoption laws, according to recent figures.

Government has issued the results of a public consultation which took place during September and October this year about a proposed new Adoption Bill for the Island, with 100 residents giving responses on the matter.

Officials stated then that the new legislation, if approved, would reduce delays in the adoption process and make it easier for people who've been adopted and their birth relatives to make contact with each other if they wished to do so.

According to the survey, 94 per cent were in favour of basing Manx law around the matter existing ones in England and Wales with numerous other areas also receiving a positive response.

However, there were some concerns raised about plans for an Island panel to look at decisions made by a UK board on placing a child from across with a family on the Island - only 56 per cent of people who responded backed this idea.

The DHSC has since clarified this review wouldn't be designed to delay the adoption process but to minimise any potential trauma to a child - adding, since 2017, four placements involving UK children coming to Manx shores have broken down.

Officials now say the draft bill will be amended and will go before Tynwald in early 2021.