Part of 2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children – in the Senedd at 3:01 pm on 22 June 2016.
I thank the Member for his question. Since the National Adoption Service was established in November 2014, the average length of time between a child being looked after and being placed for adoption has continued to reduce. The final 2015-16 quarter performance figure of 15.2 months is the lowest it’s been since 2002. Significant improvements have been made in the provision of life journey materials as of 31 March 2016, with 49 per cent of children receiving the materials by the time of their second adoption review and no more than three months after their first review, compared with 24 per cent the year before. There is still an awful lot of work to be done, but I will be looking to continue with an advisory group in order to influence Government and make the best decisions for young people finding themselves in this position.