EDM 1549: Forced adoption

That this house welcomes the unveiling of plaques on 10 May 2025 in St. Agnes and 23 May 2025 in Kendal commemorating unmarried mothers and the babies taken from them and recognises the suffering caused by forced adoption practices from the 1950s to the late 1980s; notes the unacceptable adoption and care practices of the past, including denial of information on welfare services, housing and financial assistance which were available at that time; further notes the failure to ensure that mothers, many young, had given informed consent and reports of carcinogenic drugs such as DES being administered without consent to suppress lactation; recognises that negligence by previous governments led to a failure to ensure that care provided for unmarried mothers was sufficient and appropriate, and a failure to protect the mothers and their children from mistreatment and discrimination; further recognises many suffered traumatising pre- and post-natal experiences as a consequence and that children taken were denied contact with their birth parents; expresses concern that since the conclusion of the Joint Commission on Human Rights 2022, despite strenuous efforts by the Movement for an Adoption Apology over the last three years, there has been no opportunity to meet with relevant ministers about implementing the recommendations; and calls on the Government to issue, without delay, a formal apology to all affected and to implement restorative measures, such as the provision of support with appropriate counselling, and providing help with the reunion of those who were forcibly separated by adoption.