The future of the new national adoption register is been questioned as it fails to find adoptive parents for children.

Community Care reported how, out of 12 local authorities interviewed, no matches had been made from using the register.

The register is run by Norwood, a voluntary agency, who refuses to reveal the numbers of matches made in the last 12 months. Community Care reported that the numbers could be no more than a handful.

The register contains the names of 1,700 children and 1,400 approved adopters. The children are mainly the hardest to place such as those aged 5 and over, sibling groups, or those of ethnic minority origin or with disabilities or behavioural problems.

Since April 2002 all adoption agencies are required to place children, who have been in care for six months, on the register. Approved adopters must be entered if they have failed to find a match after nine months.