Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Accepted
Historical forced adoption practices involved systemic coercion, the removal of parental choice and often resulted...
Recommendation
Historical forced adoption practices involved systemic coercion, the removal of parental choice and often resulted in deep trauma and lifelong consequences for mental and physical health. A formal apology is necessary to acknowledge these harms and to recognise the state’s role in 28 permitting them. We should be clear that the scope of the apology should extend beyond the 1949–1976 period as we have received clear evidence that the practices associated with forced adoptions happened before 1949 and continued after the introduction of the Adoption Act 1976. (Conclusion, Paragraph 28)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government accepts the recommendation, referencing their apology which recognised the state's role in enabling harmful practices. They commit to ensuring this acknowledgement is reflected in the public record and future support delivery.
Government Response
The government responded to this report on 9 July 2026. No passage in that response could be matched to this conclusion. Read the response document ↗