Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I know but in fact there is already sufficient remedy under the Adoption Act 1998, and under the provisions that replicate most of the same procedures in this Bill, the natural father is to be consulted and has the right under section 16 to give notice of his wish to be consulted. I accept that one should be innocent until proven guilty in the criminal law but we are talking here about the rights of the child. It would be most unfortunate if an authority had to wait for a conviction before it could act on concerns about particular individuals. This Bill concerns the rights of the child. It would be unduly rigid to insist on evidence of a criminal offence.