To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effect of the targets on adoption on the numbers of children remaining with their birth families. (150788)

A national adoption target was announced in 2000 to increase the number of adoptions of looked after children by 40 per cent. by the year ending March 2005, and to exceed this by achieving, if possible, a 50 per cent. increase by the end of March 2006.

The target related to children who were already looked after.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families collects statistics on the number of adoptions of Looked After Children in England. Relevant information is published in the document “Children Looked After By Local Authorities Year Ending March 2006” which is available at:

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000721/index.shtml.