7 Accepted

The Government must provide an unqualified, formal apology to all those affected by historical forced...

Recommendation
The Government must provide an unqualified, formal apology to all those affected by historical forced adoption practices, including unmarried mothers who were forced to give up their children for adoption, adult adoptees who were forcibly taken from their birth families, unmarried mothers who were able to keep their children, but who were nevertheless subject to cruel practices, punishments and stigma, as well as birth fathers, siblings and other family members. (Recommendation, Paragraph 31)
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating they have already delivered a formal apology to all those affected by historic forced adoption practices, including mothers, adopted people, fathers, and wider family members.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government Accepted
ACCEPT The Government has delivered a formal apology to all those affected by historic forced adoption practices. The apology recognised the experiences of mothers, adopted people, fathers, and wider family members, and acknowledged the harm caused, including coercion, stigma, and long-term impacts.
Addressee Bodies
Department for Education
Timeline
Recommendation age 0.3 yrs
Report published 27 Mar 2026