What plans it has to review adoption services in Scotland.

As part of our commitment to improve the position of children and young people looked after by local authorities, I am concerned about the place of adoption services within the range of options that should be considered when their needs are being assessed. With my colleagues, I have concluded that there should be a review of adoption law and practice in Scotland focussing initially on children and young people in the care system.Changes in adoption law were last introduced in the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. The key change was to place the lifelong interests of the child at the heart of the adoption process. The time is now right to review the operation of the relevant provisions in the 1995 Act, including their impact upon the lives and life chances of young people within the care of local authorities.We have already signalled our intention to close a number of loopholes within the legislation governing inter-country adoption. The review will concentrate therefore on domestic adoption arrangements. I propose to set up an Adoption Policy Review Advisory Group with former Sheriff Principal Graham Cox as Convenor. The group will comprise representatives of the local authorities, specialist voluntary sector agencies, children's panels and legal interests. I will also ensure representation from adoptive parents and young people who have gone through the adoption process. The remit for the review will be discussed with the Education, Culture and Sport and with the Justice Committees of the Parliament. I am arranging for a copy of the memorandum to both Committees to be placed today in the Parliament's Reference Centre.I will finalise other appointments to the Advisory Group very shortly and, subject to consultations with the Parliamentary Committees, hope to see the Advisory Group start its deliberations in the course of April and submit a first report to me within 6 months. With colleagues I will consider the findings and recommendations together with any other points made to me by the Group about possible further work that may be required.