Speeches by Asato.

“Is the problem not that, as we have heard, there is no trauma-informed pathway, and that there are very few counselling services that recognise trauma due to adoption? Is there not also a concern that in quite rightly raising awareness among NHS professionals, all you will be doing is taking those who have experienced …”

“Is the problem not that, as we have heard, there is no trauma-informed pathway, and that there are very few counselling services that recognise trauma due to adoption? Is there not also a concern that in quite rightly raising awareness among NHS professionals, all you will be doing is taking those who have experienced …”

“Based on your organisations’ experiences, what factors most commonly influence whether reunions between adoptees and birth relatives are positive, difficult or unsuccessful? What support do you think is needed to help people to feel safe and well supported during contact and reunion? We have heard a little bit about th…”

“Is there any evidence of mothers being misinformed, pressured or denied the opportunity to withdraw their consent?”

“How has the inability to reunite shaped the lives of mothers and their adopted children?”

“How has the inability to reunite shaped the lives of mothers and their adopted children?”

“What are the implications of increased access to DNA and ancestry testing for individuals affected by historical forced adoption?”

“What are the implications of increased access to DNA and ancestry testing for individuals affected by historical forced adoption?”

“Could you talk a little bit more about the oversight mechanisms that you have just mentioned to monitor adoption practices during this period? I think we have heard your answer on this, but I want to ask again, whether those were effective in preventing coercion or malpractice.”

“Is there any evidence of mothers being misinformed, pressured or denied the opportunity to withdraw their consent?”

“I am Jess Asato MP. I want to declare an interest as having formerly worked at Barnardo’s.”

“What about the question about whether you had recorded whether the baby was a result of sexual abuse, rather than willing consent?”

“Some of that crosses over with my next question, which is about what practical changes to post-adoption counselling services would help to ensure that mothers and adoptees can safely access the care that they need. I am quite interested in trauma-informed pathways, because although the evidence base for its effectivene…”

“There is well-documented evidence that mothers and adoptees affected by forced adoption practices can feel shame, self-blame and trauma. We heard that extensively from our first panel. What is your assessment of the current availability of trauma-informed mental health pathways for adult adoptees and birth mothers?”

“Do any other panellists have comments on what practical changes we could make to post-adoption counselling?”

“Could you talk a little bit more about the oversight mechanisms that you have just mentioned to monitor adoption practices during this period? I think we have heard your answer on this, but I want to ask again, whether those were effective in preventing coercion or malpractice.”

“Peter Forrest, I was interested in your comment that unmarried mothers “fall” pregnant, because actually unmarried mothers did not have an immaculate conception. There was another person involved—a man. I am interested in whether any of the records of adoptions record the father or what led to the mother becoming pregn…”

“I am Jess Asato MP. I want to declare an interest as having formerly worked at Barnardo’s.”

“There is well-documented evidence that mothers and adoptees affected by forced adoption practices can feel shame, self-blame and trauma. We heard that extensively from our first panel. What is your assessment of the current availability of trauma-informed mental health pathways for adult adoptees and birth mothers?”

“Okay. Does any of the rest of the panel know about that particular aspect of unmarried mothers? No? Thank you.”