Boost in gay couples adopting children 'is relieving strain on UK care system'

A rise in the number of same-sex couples adopting children has helped to relieve the strain on the UK's care system, new figures show.

An analysis of family court statistics published by the Department of Justice showed more gay couples were applying for adoption orders while fewer heterosexual couples wanted to adopt a child.

In total, the number of applications from heterosexual couples dropped by 12 per cent to 3561, while the number of gay couples rose by seven per cent to 587.

It comes as the number of adoptions has fallen since 2013 when two court rulings criticised social workers and suggested they do more to place children with other family members rather than adoptive families.

Later it was determined that this would only be a viable solution if the family member and the child had a close bond - but the adoption system has not recovered fully.

An analysis of the figures by private law firm Wilsons found that between 2013 and 2014 the number of heterosexual couples applying for adoption was 4,914 in England and Wales. The number of gay couples at that time applying for adoption was 510.

In 2002 the Adoption and Children Act allowed gay people to adopt for the first time. Since then the number of same-sex couples seeking to adopt has risen.

Sarah Wood-Heath, associate at Wilsons, said: “The door has really opened now for all kinds of individuals to start their own family.

“Same sex adoptions are at a record high, and it may be that the legalisation of gay marriage in 2013 has been a catalyst for more same sex couples to adopt.”

As for the decline in heterosexual couples looking to adopt, she said that medicinal breakthroughs could be a contributing factor.

“Medical advances have meant that alternative birthing options such as surrogacy or IVF are increasingly attractive for many heterosexual couples - there are now so many options for anyone to have a child,” she said.