On Wednesday 9 June, Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West, spoke at Prime Minister Questions and asked the Prime Minister to push for an apology from those Government institutions involved in forced adoptions. Sir David has previously delivered a letter to the Prime Minister on behalf of Movement for an Adoption Apology and again written to the Prime Minister with Harriet Harman MP calling for an apology.

Sir David said

I am delighted that Southend-on-Sea has now been given the opportunity to become a city.

In the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, a million and a half ladies were forced to give up their babies for adoption. By any standards that was cruel, and the hurt is still felt by those ladies today. Does my right hon. Friend agree that an apology should be given, and that all those involved in the process should acknowledge that forced adoption was wrong?

The Prime Minister replied

I echo my hon. Friend’s sentiments about Southend, but also what he says about those who have been affected by forced adoption. The practices that led to forced adoption cannot now occur because the law protects birth parents. He asks for an apology; I can tell him that the agencies involved in forced adoption in the past have apologised for their role—and quite right too.