Politicians need to address what is happening rather than ignoring it. If war is too important to be left to the generals, then surely children are too important to be left to the social workers. Paradoxically, many social workers themselves would welcome more children being liberated from their visits and placed as part of a family in permanent loving homes.

"Letting the perfect be the enemy of the good." That could be the motto of many social services departments when it comes to deciding whether or not couples should be allowed to adopt children. There is no "right" to have children but far too many prospective adopters are turned away. Often this rejection leaves them in a state of despair or anger. But the unseen victims are the children who have missed the chance to have their lives transformed.