Glowing endorsements of the White Paper were made by two MPs who are also adoptive parents.

Mrs Dari Taylor, who was told she was too old to adopt at the age of 32, said it was impossible to exaggerate the "hideousness" of the procedures.

Eventually they were able to adopt through a Christian children's society.

The Labour MP for Stockton South said: "It broke my heart and it broke my husband's heart. The fact that we were Christians and attended church gave us the opportunity of adopting Philippa. That should never ever be the case.

"There are so many people out there who want to be part of bringing up children and this is going to give hem that opportunity."

She asked, as a "victim" of the local authorities, whether consideration had been given to moving to a national adoption agency and what measures were being taken to protect birth mothers.

Mr Michael Foster, Labour MP for Hastings and Rye, said he was a "proud adoptive parent" but urged the Government to make sure every effort was made to reunite children with their birth families before they were finally placed with adoptive parents.