The Department for Education and Prime Minister Keir Starmer have issued a formal government apology for historic forced adoption practices in England, alongside a £4 million support package over three years.
The apology was delivered in Parliament on 2 July 2026 as campaigners affected by historic forced adoption watched from the House gallery. The government said the practices mainly took place between 1949 and 1976, but recognised that some experiences extended beyond that period.
The apology relates to historic forced adoption practices in England and acknowledges the harm experienced by mothers, adopted people, fathers and wider families. Ministers said the support package will focus on records access, family reconnection, health support, public service awareness and lived experience.
Government Issues Formal Apology
Prime Minister Keir Starmer apologised in the House of Commons for the role of the state in historic forced adoption practices. The government said many women were denied genuine choice, made to feel ashamed or unworthy, and separated from their children.
The Prime Minister recognised the harm experienced by an estimated 185,000 mothers, adopted people and wider family members. It also acknowledged fathers, siblings, grandparents, partners and future generations affected by the long-term consequences of those practices.
- Period covered: Practices were most prevalent between 1949 and 1976.
- People affected: Mothers, adopted people, fathers and wider families were included.
- State role: The government accepted responsibility for systems it funded and legitimised.
Support Package Announced For Affected Families
The Department for Education said the £4 million support fund will run over three years. It will help people access adoption records, use intermediary services and reconnect with family members where appropriate.
Funding will also support research and testimony projects documenting the long-term impact of historic forced adoption. Ministers said the package reflects priorities raised by those affected, including understanding the past and receiving support that recognises lived experience.
Support Package Areas
| Area | Action | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Records | Improve access | Coram BAAF will support access. |
| Reconnection | Fund services | FamilyConnect supports family tracing. |
| Testimony | Capture stories | Projects will document lived experience. |
Access To Adoption Records
The government said many people affected have faced barriers when trying to understand their own history. Some records were lost, altered or not made fully accessible to people seeking answers.
Ministers said the programme will improve access to adoption records and make the process more consistent across England. The Prime Minister also said the government will fund a national online resource to create a single access point for locating records across the country.
- Online resource: A national access point will help people locate records.
- Agency expectations: Adoption bodies will be asked to respond swiftly and compassionately.
- Record retention: Ministers will consult on retaining existing records for 100 years.
Wider Health And Family Support
The support package includes work with NHS England to improve access to appropriate health support. The government said this includes mental health challenges linked to historic forced adoption.
Plans also include developing peer support and strengthening awareness across public services. A lived experience reference group will review progress and help ministers understand whether support is working over time.
Planned Support Measures
| Measure | Focus | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Peer support | Ongoing help | National virtual groups. |
| Health support | Mental health | NHS England involvement. |
| Public services | Awareness | Training and recognition. |
State Responsibility And Institutional Failure
The government said past systems were funded, enabled and legitimised without consistent or effective oversight. It said the state did not do enough to protect mothers, children and families from harm.
The announcement stated that harm was compounded by failures in systems involving local authorities, voluntary and faith-based institutions, and health and social care services. Ministers said the apology recognises that the state bears responsibility for systems that allowed these practices to occur.
England Apology And Wider UK Context
The apology relates to historic adoption practices in England. The government noted that Scotland and Wales have already issued formal apologies, while Northern Ireland is establishing a statutory public inquiry into Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses.
The government said today’s adoption system is fundamentally different, with legal safeguards, consent requirements and independent judicial oversight.
Information And Support
The Department for Education said people affected by historic forced adoption practices can access confidential support through organisations providing counselling, record tracing and family reconnection services. FamilyConnect will continue supporting reunification where appropriate, while NHS services and GPs can help people access additional health support.
The government also pointed people to Samaritans for urgent support and said GPs can help people access further support. People based outside England can still use confidential listening services such as Samaritans.
Ministerial Comments
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said;
“The shame is not yours. The shame was never yours. The shame is ours.”
“And I say that on behalf of the whole country, I say it to every single person impacted, we are deeply and profoundly sorry.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said;
“Today, on behalf of the British state, we say with one voice: this was wrong, and we are sorry.”
The government apology formally recognises the harm caused by historic forced adoption practices in England and the state’s responsibility for systems that enabled them. The accompanying support package is intended to improve access to records, reconnection services, health support and lived experience initiatives while providing a framework for monitoring how support develops over time.
Sources: Department for Education; The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP; Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street; The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organisation delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analysed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
