VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Surrogacy

Asked by Carla LockhartDemocratic Unionist PartyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 1 July 2026UIN 11200

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2026 to Question 120432, what recent assessment he has made of the consistency between (a) the Government’s policy of recognizing parental orders arising from commercial surrogacy arrangements in Nigeria, and (b) its policy of prohibiting adoptions from Nigera.

Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson

The Department has not made any assessment of the consistency between parental orders arising from commercial surrogacy arrangements in Nigeria and the prohibition of adoptions from Nigeria.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has published advice for those considering surrogacy overseas, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/surrogacy-overseas/surrogacy-overseas

This clearly sets out the possible risks and the processes for returning to the United Kingdom with a child born through an international surrogacy arrangement.

The Department for Education has responsibility for adoption policy, including prohibition of adoption from Nigeria.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim