Adoption facts

58,000 children in local authority care 5,000 are suitable for adoption Only 50% get matched with a family 1,300 couples waiting to adopt

The difficulties of adoption has been highlighted by the case of Jeff and Jennifer Bramley, who on Thursday were finally allowed to adopt two half-sisters in their care despite having run away with them in 1998.

Mr Milburn said the government's new white paper on adoption amounted to the most radical overhaul of the system in over 25 years.

The upgrading of the adoption process is to include an adoption register as well as national standards for adoption.

In addition every child will be given an agreed "plan for permanence" after six months in care.

Mr Milburn told MPs that current outmoded laws were not meeting the needs of the many children in care, who could benefit from adoption.

"These children need a better chance in life, they deserve a better deal," he said.

Adoption takes an 'eternity'

He added the average time taken to adopt a child was now three years, Mr Milburn said this was far too long and amounted to "an eternity in a child's eyes".

Ministers are also keen to bring up to speed those local authorities who put out to adoption just 1% of children in their care while others are able to match up to 10% of children with would be parents.

The system's speed will also be increased with pilot schemes setting up special adoption courts.

Blanket bans to end

Turning to the failings of the current system, Mr Milburn said the needs of the child "will be paramount" in the future, especially in regard to placing children with couples of mixed race.

And proposals will give potential adopters the right to an independent review if their application is rejected.

Mr Milburn also said there will be no blanket bans on prospective parents because of their age, health or other factors.

He said: "The system deters people from adopting. It is slow intrusive and sometimes inappropriate."

Adoption backlog

Currently just over 2,000 children in local authority care are matched with families each year and there is a backlog of more than 2,000 youngsters waiting to be placed with families.

The government wants a register of children and would-be parents

In the 1960s, 20,000 children were adopted each year, a figure several times larger than the current average.

The adoption overhaul is being driven by Prime Minister Tony Blair, who believes it is essential to offer a fresh start to children in care who would otherwise face a bleak future.

On a visit to a family centre in north London Mr Blair said the issue was close to his heart as his own father had been adopted.

"A framework of rules grew up in a random and ad hoc way. Now is the right time to go back to basics and ask what we want to achieve for our children," he said.

Mr Milburn also told MPs he would not hesitate to use new powers to take away from failing local authorities their responsibility over adoption.

Speaking ahead of the announcement NCH family placement adviser Linda Plummer said: "We want to see an adoption process where the best interests of the child takes precedence, starting with a more efficient and child-focused court system.

"Proper financial support for families who have adopted together with good post-adoption support will go a long way to improving the present ad hoc system.

"Adoption is not a cheap option so these changes will require extra money from the government to local authorities, to ensure they happen."