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18 February 2011
Last updated at 23:30 ET
White couples should be allowed to adopt black and ethnic minority children under new guidelines for social workers in England.
Local authorities will be warned not to delay placing a child with a suitable family of a different ethnicity.
Many children from ethnic minorities do not get adopted because social workers have been keen to place them with families of the same background.
The move will be confirmed by Education Secretary Michael Gove on Tuesday.
Actions monitored The law will not change but the new guidance will state that as long as prospective adopters show that they are able to care for the child then race should not be a factor.
They will also say that preventing families from adopting children of a different ethnic group is "unacceptable".
Each local authority will be closely monitored and those that persistently ignore the advice could have their adoption services contracted out to voluntary agencies.
Current advice states that social workers must give "due consideration to the child's religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background", but does not specify whether race should be regarded as outweighing other factors.
Children's minister Tim Loughton announced in November last year that the government would be updating its guidance on adoption.
Local authorities will be warned not to delay placing a child with a suitable family of a different ethnicity.
Many children from ethnic minorities do not get adopted because social workers have been keen to place them with families of the same background.
The move will be confirmed by Education Secretary Michael Gove on Tuesday.
Actions monitored The law will not change but the new guidance will state that as long as prospective adopters show that they are able to care for the child then race should not be a factor.
They will also say that preventing families from adopting children of a different ethnic group is "unacceptable".
Each local authority will be closely monitored and those that persistently ignore the advice could have their adoption services contracted out to voluntary agencies.
Current advice states that social workers must give "due consideration to the child's religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background", but does not specify whether race should be regarded as outweighing other factors.
Children's minister Tim Loughton announced in November last year that the government would be updating its guidance on adoption.