News In Focus
7 December 2006
Adoption Bill passes final stage
The Adoption (Scotland) Bill is set to become law after passing its stage 3 debate in the Scottish Parliament today.
MSPs rejected by 98 votes to 11 an amendment proposed by the SNP's Roseanna Cunningham that would have prevented same-sex couples adopting together.
The provision in the bill enabling such adoptions was by far the most controversial aspect of a wide ranging measure which implements most of the recommendations of the committee chaired by Sheriff Principal Graham Cox, which reported last year.
The clause was vehemently opposed by the Catholic Church and some other church leaders, and Ms Cunningham claimed that the great majority of the Scottish population were also against it.
Moving the bill, Education Minister Hugh Henry said ministers wanted to see more married people coming forward to adopt children. However he added: "We also recognise that there are others who can be equally loving, equally caring and who are in stable environments who also wish to adopt whether or not they are married and we need to reflect that in our legislation."
On its final vote the bill was passed by 101 votes to six, with six abstentions.