The Conservative Party manifesto has vowed to continue adoption reforms started in coalition.

A Conservative government would create regional adoption agencies that work across local authority boundaries, the party’s manifesto has pledged.

The manifesto, published today, says the party would continue with the adoption reforms it began in coalition: “We have made progress in reforming our adoption system, but there is more to do.”

The party says regional adoption agencies would help “match children with the best parents for them”.

“Far-reaching powers” over social care would also be devolved to large cities that opt to have elected mayors, though the manifesto does not specify what these would be.

The manifesto also says a Conservative government would integrate health and social care through the Better Care Fund, the system of pooled budgets that comes into force this month, and pilot new approaches to joined-up services between homes, clinics and hospitals.