The statutory instrument before you today amends the Adoption Agencies (Wales) Regulations 2005, which are the principal regulations. A number of related amendments have already been made to the principal regulations by the Adoption Agencies (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, which were laid before the Senedd on 20 February 2020. These will come into force on 1 April of this year. 

The amendment made by this set of regulations sets out the requirement on adoption agencies, when assessing the suitability of a couple to adopt a child, to have proper regard to the need for stability and permanence in the relationship. Members will be aware that single people can also adopt, but this measure applies when a couple is being considered. The amendment will highlight for agencies the fact that any couple's relationship, whether people are married or not, and whether in a heterosexual or same sex relationship, may come under pressure when an adopted child joins the family. The regulatory requirement is therefore designed to safeguard the welfare of children, and ensure that prospective adopters are equipped to deal with the needs of the children they hope to adopt. 

We know from research that many adopted children have experienced significant adversity early in their lives, and they'll need support from an adopted family to overcome those experiences, to cope with the challenges they will face in the future, and to thrive. A careful assessment of the strength of the couple's relationship is required to ensure that parties will support each other to give the child the extra parenting that may be required.

This provision is not a new provision, but is already in place. The amendments to the 2005 regulations include some new provisions already made by the negative procedure and the continuation of existing provisions, which have been brought forward in these regulations because they engage the Assembly's affirmative procedure. Diolch yn fawr.