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16 J. Soc. Welfare & Fam. L. 1 (1994)

handle is hein.journals/jnlosclwl16 and id is 1 raw text is: Editorial This issue, No. 1, 1994, marks a watershed in the history of the Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, since it is the first to be published by Routledge following the transfer of ownership from Sweet & Maxwell of which regular readers will be aware, both from our editorial in the final issue of 1993 and from the publicity material which subscribers have received. As Joint General Editors, we and our team of Section Editors warmly welcome and support this change and this edition reflects our determination, which is shared by our new publishers, to continue to provide our readers with the coverage to which they have been accustomed, both in terms of the quality and the range of material published. We are also, however, greatly looking forward to the potential for making further improvements which has been created by the move to a quarterly publication with an increased number of pages, and as Editors we should welcome any comments which our readers might have about these important changes. As the Journal goes to press, a number of important issues are at the forefront of current debate. The White Paper on adoption law, published on 3 November 1993, proposes some of the most sweeping changes in this area of law for two decades. In doing so, it attempts to respond to a number of issues which have been the subject of much recent discussion and public concern. Proposals are made to streamline the procedures for the adoption of children from abroad, an issue highlighted by recent cases involving attempts to adopt children from Romania and other countries torn by civil war and strife. In doing so, the White Paper reinforces the principle of mutual recognition of adoption orders and practices. It is, however, critical of local authorities who appear to have given too much weight to differences in ethnic, cultural, or racial backgrounds when assessing the suitability of prospective adopters and in so doing have prevented couples from adopting children of a different race. Authorities are also urged to be more flexible in considering applications to adopt: from older couples, although the Secre- tary of State appears to have been ignorant of recent case-law (for a discussion of which see R. Sandland, Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, No. 5, 1993: 321-332) when introducing the White Paper by insisting that there was no question of gay couples being allowed to adopt. Another issue currently attracting much concern and comment is that of the activities and impact of the Child Support Agency, set up in April 1993 as a result of the Child Support Act, which are currently being reviewed by the Social Security Select Committee of the House of Commons. In conse- quence, a number of important practical issues are being raised, including: the priorities established by the Agency; the design of the formula for calculating payments; the cost of :DNA tests to determine paternity and the implications of this for the cost-effectiveness of pursuing cases where the fathers are denying paternity; and the impact which the combined effect of these is having on fathers, mothers and their families. In the process, 1

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