The Welsh, Scottish and Irish governments have all apologised for forced adoptions.
A 2022 inquiry by the Joint Committee on Human Rights , externalsaid the UK government had failed to “acknowledge the reality of what was done to these mothers and their children” and said there “continued to be a lack of adequate support”.
It added the government of the time should have done more to ensure mothers and babies stayed together.
“It was the state that was ultimately responsible for the actions and omissions within the adoption system that led to a failure to protect women and babies,” it said.
A government statement said: “We agree with the committee’s findings that the treatment during this period of many unmarried parents, especially women, was wrong and should not have happened.
“We are sorry to all those affected by historic adoption practices. We are sorry on behalf of society for what happened.
“Whilst we cannot undo the past, lessons of the time have been learned and have led to significant changes to legislation and practice.”
