Wiltshire the worst in the West for adoption
'Adoption Scorecards' published by the government show that Wiltshire takes longer to settle children with adopted parents than other councils.
Wiltshire Council takes 803 days on average to complete an adoption. The average for England is 625 days. The most efficient council in the region is Bristol at 478 days, whilst neighbouring Bath & North East Somerset take 512.
The government has threatened to take action against underperforming councils, which could ultimately see Wiltshire Council stripped of responsibility for adoption in the county.
Tim Loughton, the Children's Minister, said: "Adoption can give vulnerable children the greatest possible chance of a stable, loving and permanent home. Hundreds of children are being let down by unacceptable delays. This cannot go on. These statistics illustrate all too starkly the magnitude of the challenge which we face. I have been clear that we won't hesitate to intervene where the worst delays are not tackled effectively."