Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I am pleased to contribute to this debate today on this LCM, and to outline the views of the Children, Young People and Education Committee. Members will see from our report that the committee supports the approach set out in the LCM, and agrees that it is appropriate to deal with these provisions in the Children and Social Work Bill.

The amendment to the Bill tabled by Lord Nash will have the effect of requiring adoption agencies in Wales to have regard to the same factors as those applying to adoption agencies in England and the courts. The amendment will also mean that, for adoption agencies in Wales, prospective adopters are now included in the list of relationships that they must have regard to when making a decision about a child’s adoption.

It was helpful that the timetable for this LCM allowed the committee the opportunity to consult with key stakeholders to inform its considerations, and I would like to thank the Cabinet Secretary for providing sufficient time in the process for this to happen. It is important that stakeholders are able to feed in to the LCM process. Consultation with Welsh adoption agencies has highlighted that there is support for the relevant provisions in the Bill, and the clear view given to the committee from both Adoption UK Cymru and the national adoption service is that they welcome the proposal to allow the proposed change in Wales.

Our considerations as a committee did not highlight any other issues or concerns, and the committee, therefore, recommends that the Assembly supports the legislative consent motion before us today. Thank you.