What progress is being made in improving adoption services.

We started a review of domestic adoption and fostering policy and legislation in April last year. Just before Christmas, I received the report of the working group undertaking phase one, which was looking, amongst other matters, at the place of adoption in local authority services. I intend to publish the report and the Executive's response shortly.We have also strengthened controls over intercountry adoption. Prospective adopters must have a home study report by an approved adoption agency and must inform their local authority when they bring a child into this country. As agreed by Parliament, we are pursuing further measures to tighten up controls on internet advertising with UK ministers in the context of the Adoption and Children Bill.