United Bermuda Party MP Suzann Roberts-Holshouser gave her support to the act but called for a study into the welfare of children in the adoptive system.

She said: "Every child deserves to be loved. That's one of the reasons why we need to take a look as a Government at the legislation and review it, and bring it up to date.

"Now we need to change the attitudes in our community. If we take in and love and nurture our children, it's not impossible to love someone else's child.

"It's not impossible to change the mannerisms of an eight or nine or ten-year-old. A child watches and absorbs the environment which they are in.

"We will support this piece of legislation but it's important a proper study is done.

"I would like to see a study completed on the welfare of our children that are in the adoptive system.

"We need to see how we can prevent a child from having to go in the system in the first place.

"How can we build a better home environment? We have parents out there who neglect their responsibilities."

Smith's North MP Patrice Minors said children themselves should get the chance to have a say in the matter.

She said: "It's important that the legislation will give the opportunity for the child to be interviewed, to see how the child feels about being adopted and see what their relationship is with their adoptor."

Mrs. Minors added that people needed to change their mindset towards the adoption issue.

She said: "It's important that we, as a community, don't look degradingly at people who put their children up for adoption, and that we don't look degradingly at a child up for adoption."

Deputy opposition leader Jon Brunson backed the act, but stressed it needed to be managed properly.

He said: "I feel as a parent that it's important to look out for the well-being of the children.

"This piece of legislation goes a long way towards improving the adoption procedure we have in Bermuda.

"We now have the introduction of a director and an adoption co-ordinator.

"We should keep the protection of children in mind and avoid any bureaucracy, where we create an environment where people are saying 'I thought you were going to do it'."

Wrapping up, Mr. Butler said: "What do children need? Children need love, one of the biggest things I hear is that they need love of a parent. If they are an adoptive parent it still makes a difference.

"Children need to be cared for. They need discipline, they need to be challenged, they need help, they need someone to read to them, a shoulder to cry on, someone to celebrate with them.

"Clearly there had to be improvements since 1963. We will attempt in our department to let the people of Bermuda know whether this piece of legislation makes a difference."