Earlier this year the Commons education committee said the government should issue a formal apology to victims of official policy in England in the mid-20th century to require some women to give up children for adoption.
Jessica Murray reported at the time:
Between 1949 and 1976, an estimated 185,000 babies were taken from unmarried mothers and placed for adoption in England and Wales owing to a culture of shame surrounding pregnancy outside marriage. Religious organisations ran most of the mother and baby homes where pregnant women were sent to give birth, while charities and local authorities were also involved in funding the placements and finding adoptive parents.
Today Bridget Phillipson has said the government will deliver an apology for this. Giving evidence to the committee this morning, she said:
This government will very soon be making a full apology on behalf of the state to all of those affected by historic forced adoption in England.
The prime minister will have more to say on this shameful period in our history, reflecting the gravity of what has happened.
But here and now, let me say to all of those affected, you will get the apology that you so profoundly deserve.
