Adoption groups throughout the country are campaigning for government plans, to allow birth parents the right to trace their adopted children, to be delayed reports Community Care.

The new proposals, scheduled to be introduced in April 2003, include plans for 'a single adoption agency to take the lead role for intermediary services, guidance to clarify how agencies should respond to requests for information and promotion of the Adoption Contact Register'.

Adoption organisations are concerned that a single co-ordinating agency will not be able to carry out the work. Also there is no rule saying that adoption agencies have to provide intermediary services.

The adoption groups want the intermediary services to be optional and to allow them access to the registrar-general.