PART 1 INTRODUCTORY

Citation, commencement and application

1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Adoption Information and Intermediary Services (Pre-Commencement Adoptions) Regulations 2005 and shall come into force on 30th December 2005.

(2) These Regulations apply to England only.

Interpretation

2. In these Regulations—

“the Act” means the Adoption and Children Act 2002;

“adopted person” means a person who was adopted before 30th December 2005 and has attained the age of 18 years;

“applicant” means a person who makes an application underregulation 5 and is—

“the appropriate adoption agency” has the same meaning as in section 65(1) of the Act;

“corresponding Welsh provision” means in relation to a Part or a regulation of these Regulations, regulations made by the Welsh Ministers under section 9 of the Act which corresponds to that Part or regulation;

“identifying information” has the meaning given in regulation 7;

“intermediary agency” and “intermediary service” have the meaning given in regulation 4;

“prescribed relationship” has the meaning given in regulation 2A;

“registered adoption support agency” means an adoption support agency in respect of which a person is registered underPart 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000( 3 );

“relative”, in relation to an adopted person, has the same meaning as in section 98 of the Act;

“subject”, in relation to an application underregulation 5, is a person with whom the applicant seeks contact.

Prescribed relationship

2A. For the purposes of section 98(1A) of the Act, a prescribed relationship is a relationship whereby a person (who is not a relative of the adopted person) is related to an adopted person—

(a) by blood (including half-blood), marriage or civil partnership; or

(b) by virtue of the adopted person’s adoption.

Provision of intermediary services

3. —(1) A registered adoption support agency or an adoption agency may provide an intermediary service.

(2) The service must be provided in accordance with these Regulations.

(3) An intermediary service is an adoption support service for the purposes of section 2(6) of the Act.

Meaning of “intermediary service” and “intermediary agency”

4. —(1) For the purposes of these Regulations an intermediary service is a service provided for the purposes of—

(a) assisting adopted persons to obtain information in relation to their adoption;

(b) facilitating contact between adopted persons and their relatives; and

(c) facilitating contact between persons with a prescribed relationship to an adopted person and relatives of the adopted person.

(2) But an adoption agency does not provide an intermediary service for the purposes of these Regulations if it is the appropriate adoption agency in relation to an adopted person and only provides information in relation to that person’s adoption.

(3) A registered adoption support agency or an adoption agency that provides an intermediary service is referred to in these Regulations as an “intermediary agency”.

Adoption support agencies that were formerly adoption agencies

4A. Where, by virtue ofregulation 16(2A) of the Adoption Agencies Regulations 1983, an adoption support agency keeps the information in relation to the adoption of a person adopted before 30th December 2005, any reference in these Regulations to the appropriate adoption agency in relation to that person shall be taken to be a reference to that adoption support agency.

PART 2 APPLICATIONS FOR INTERMEDIARY SERVICES

Applications that may be accepted

5.—(1)Subject to paragraph (3) an intermediary agency may accept an application from—

(a) an adopted person for assistance in contacting a relative of his;

(b) a relative of an adopted person for assistance in contacting—

(i) the adopted person; or

(ii) a person with a prescribed relationship to the adopted person; or

(c) a person with a prescribed relationship to an adopted person for assistance in contacting a relative of an adopted person.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) The applicant and the person with whom the applicant seeks contact (“the subject”) must be aged 18 or over.

Restrictions on proceeding with an application

5A.—(1) Where an intermediary agency accepts an application from a relative of an adopted person for assistance in contacting the adopted person, it must not proceed with the application if a veto applies underregulation 8(1), except in the circumstances referred to in regulation 8(1)(b)(ii).

(2) Where an intermediary agency accepts an application from a relative of an adopted person for assistance in contacting a person with a prescribed relationship to the adopted person, it must not proceed with an application if—

(a) a veto applies underregulation 8(1), except in the circumstances referred to in regulation 8(1)(b)(ii); or

(b) the adopted person does not consent to the application proceeding.

(3)Subject to paragraphs (4) to (6), where an intermediary agency accepts an application from a person with a prescribed relationship to an adopted person for assistance in contacting a relative of the adopted person, it must not proceed with the application if the adopted person does not consent to the application proceeding.

(4) An intermediary agency may proceed with an application under paragraph (3)—

(a) if the intermediary agency has taken all reasonable steps to locate the adopted person but has been unable to do so; or

(b) where—

(i) the applicant is either the spouse, civil partner, child, grandchild or great grandchild of the adopted person; and

(ii) the applicant is seeking to contact the relative of the adopted person only to obtain information about the medical history of the adopted person’s relatives.

(5) Where paragraph (4)(b) applies, the intermediary agency must not disclose any information which, whether taken on its own or together with other information possessed by the person to whom it is being disclosed, would enable the adopted person, any relative of the adopted person or any person with a prescribed relationship to the adopted person to be identified or traced.

(6) Any requirement under this regulation for the adopted person to consent to an application proceeding does not apply if—

(a) the adopted person has died; or

(b) the intermediary agency determines that the adopted person is incapable of giving informed consent.

(7) Where the consent of the adopted person is required under this regulation, the intermediary agency must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the adopted person has sufficient information to make an informed decision.

No obligation to proceed if not appropriate

6. —(1) An intermediary agency that accepts an application under these Regulations is not required to proceed with it, or having begun to proceed with it is not required to continue, if the intermediary agency considers that it would not be appropriate to do so.

(2) In deciding whether it is appropriate to proceed (or continue proceeding) with an application the intermediary agency must have regard to—

(a) the welfare of—

(i) the applicant;

(ii) the subject; and

(iii) any other persons who may be identified or otherwise affected by the application;

(b) any views of the appropriate adoption agency obtained underregulation 12;

(c) any information obtained from the Adoption Contact Register underregulation 13,

and all the other circumstances of the case.

(3) In relation to any decision under paragraph (2) the intermediary agency must have particular regard to the welfare of any person mentioned in paragraph (2)(a)(iii) who is under the age of 18.

(4) If, at any time, the intermediary agency ascertains that the subject of an application is under the age of 18 it must not proceed further with the application in relation to that subject.

Consent of subject to disclosure etc.

7. —(1)Subject to paragraph (2) an intermediary agency must not disclose to the applicant any identifying information about the subject without the subject’s consent.

(2) If the subject has died or the agency determines that he is incapable of giving informed consent, the agency may disclose such identifying information about him to the applicant as it considers appropriate, having regard to the matters referred to in regulation 6(2).

(3) The agency must take all reasonable steps to ensure that any person whose consent to disclosure is required under this regulation has sufficient information to make an informed decision as to whether to give his consent.

(4) In this regulation and in regulations 9 and 12, “identifying information” means information which, whether taken on its own or together with other information possessed by the applicant, enables the subject to be identified or traced.

Veto by an adopted person

8. —(1) A veto applies in relation to an application underregulation 5 or undercorresponding Welsh provision where—

(a) the subject is either the adopted person or a person with a prescribed relationship to the adopted person; and

(b) the adopted person has notified the appropriate adoption agency in writing—

(i) that he does not wish to be contacted by an intermediary agency in relation to an application under these Regulations; or

(ii) that he only wishes to be contacted in specified circumstances.

(2) Where the appropriate adoption agency is notified of a veto under paragraph (1) it must keep a written record of it on the adopted person’s case record and ensure that it is made known to any intermediary agency that contacts it in relation to an application under these Regulations.

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) A veto which applies by virtue of a notification given before 31st October 2014 is deemed to apply to any application made by a relative of the adopted personunder these Regulations.

Provision of background information where consent refused etc.

9. Nothing in these Regulations prevents the intermediary agency from disclosing to the applicant any information about the subject that is not identifying information and that the agency considers it appropriate to disclose.

Counselling

10. —(1) An intermediary agency must provide written information about the availability of counselling to any person who—

(a) makes an application to it under these Regulations; ...

(b) is the subject of such an application and is considering whether to consent to disclosure of information about himself to the applicant ; or

(c) is an adopted person considering whether to consent to an application proceeding.

(2) The information provided under paragraph (1) must include details of—

(a) persons offering counselling; and

(b) fees that may be charged by such persons.

(3) If a person mentioned in paragraph (1) requests that counselling be provided for him, the intermediary agency must secure the provision of counselling for that person.

(4) The intermediary agency may provide the counselling itself or make arrangements with any of the following persons for provision of counselling—

(a) if the person is in England or Wales, another adoption agency or a registered adoption support agency;

(b) if the person is in Scotland, a Scottish adoption agency;

(c) if the person is in Northern Ireland, an appropriate voluntary organisation within the meaning of Article 2(2) of the Adoption (NI) Order 1987 or the Regional Board or any Health and Social Care Trust; or

(d) if the person is outside the United Kingdom, any person or body outside the United Kingdom who appears to the agency to correspond in its functions to a body mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c).

(5) In this regulation “Regional Board” means the Regional Health and Social Care Board established under Section 7 of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 and a Health and Social Care Trust” means a “Health and Social Care Trust established underArticle 10 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.

(6) In this regulation “registered adoption support agency” means—

(a) in relation to England, an adoption support agency in respect of which a person is registered underPart 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000, or

(b) in relation to Wales, an adoption support agency registered as an adoption service underPart 1 of the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016.

PART 3 PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING APPLICATIONS

Procedure on receipt of application

11. The intermediary agency must, on receipt of an application underregulation 5, take reasonable steps to confirm—

(a) the identity of the applicant or of any person acting on his behalf;

(b) the age of the applicant;

(c) that any person acting on behalf of the applicant is authorised to do so;

(d) in the case of an application by a relative of the adopted person, that the applicant is related to that person.

(e) in the case of an application by a person with a prescribed relationship to the adopted person, that the applicant does have a prescribed relationship with that person.

Contacting the appropriate adoption agency

12. —(1) The intermediary agency must (unless it is the appropriate adoption agency) take reasonable steps to establish whether an adoption agency was involved in the adoption and, if so, to identify the appropriate adoption agency.

(2) The steps referred to in paragraph (1) may include—

(a) requesting in writing from the Registrar General any informationunderregulation 13 that may be relevant for that purpose;

(b) requesting in writing from the court that made the adoption order information about the identity of the appropriate adoption agency;

(c) making enquiries of the local authority for the area where the adoption took place.

(3) Where the appropriate adoption agency has been identified, the intermediary agency must take all reasonable steps to contact that agency in order to—

(a) ascertain whether a veto underregulation 8 exists;

(b) if no veto exists—

(i) ascertain whether the adopted person has, at any time, expressed his views to the agency about—

(aa) any future contact with any relative of his;

(bb) any future contact between people with a prescribed relationship to him and his relatives; or

(cc) his being approached with regard to such contact; and

(ii) ascertain the agency’s views as to whether the application is appropriate having regard to the matters mentioned in regulation 6; and

(c) seek any other information required for the following purposes—

(i) tracing the adopted person and, where the adopted person is not the subject, any other subject;

(ii) enabling the adopted person to make an informed decision as to whether he consents to—

(aa) the disclosure of identifying information about him;

(bb) an application proceeding to facilitate contact between a relative of his and a person with a prescribed relationship to him; or

(cc) contact with the applicant;

(iii) enabling any other subject to make an informed decision as to whether he consents to—

(aa) the disclosure of identifying information about him; or

(bb) contact with the applicant;

(iv) counselling the subject and, where they are not the subject, the adopted person in relation to that decision; and

(v) counselling the applicant.

(4) Unless a veto underregulation 8 applies, the appropriate adoption agency must take reasonable steps to provide the information sought from it under paragraph (3) or undercorresponding Welsh provision and may disclose to the intermediary agency such information (including identifying information) as is necessary for that purpose.

(5) “Intermediary agency” for the purposes of paragraph (4) includes an intermediary agency as defined undercorresponding Welsh provision.

Obtaining information from the Registrar General

13.—(1) An intermediary agency may make a request in writing to the Registrar General for such of the following information as may assist it for the purposes of proceeding with an application under these Regulations—

(a) the identity of the appropriate adoption agency;

(b) details of the court that made the adoption order;

(c) information the Registrar General may hold that would enable an application to be made for a certified copy of an entry in the Adopted Children Register;

(d) information from the Adoption Contact Register.

(2) If an intermediary agency is proceeding with an application underregulation 5(1)(c), it may also make a request in writing to the Registrar General for such information as the Registrar General may hold that would enable the adopted person with whom the applicant has a prescribed relationship to obtain a certified copy of the adopted person’s record of birth.

Registrar General to comply with request

14. —(1) The Registrar General must take reasonable steps to comply with a written request for information from an intermediary agencyunderregulation ... 13.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Court to comply with request

15. —(1) The court must disclose any information requested in writing by the intermediary agencyunderregulation 12(2)(b) that is contained in court records.

(2) If the court does not have the information requested underregulation 12(2)(b) it must inform the intermediary agency of that fact in writing, specifying the searches made of court records and, if the court considers that the information may be found in the records of another court, provide the intermediary agency with details of that court.

Authorised disclosures

16. An intermediary agency must treat information obtained or held for the purposes of these Regulations as confidential, but may disclose such information (including information that identifies any person) as is necessary—

(a) to the Registrar General or to the court for the purpose of obtaining informationunderregulation ... 13;

(b) to the appropriate adoption agency for the purposes of ascertaining its views or seeking informationunderregulation 12;

(c) to the subject to enable him to make an informed decision underregulation 7;

(d) to a person providing counselling in connection with an application under these Regulations.

(e) to the adopted person to enable him to make an informed decision about whether to consent to an application under these Regulations proceeding.

PART 4 MISCELLANEOUS

Offence

17. An intermediary agency that discloses information in contravention of regulation 7 without reasonable excuse is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Fees

18. —(1) An intermediary agency may charge the applicant any fee it determines is reasonable in connection with the processing of an application under these Regulations.

(2) An intermediary agency may charge a person mentioned in regulation 10(1) such fee as it determines is reasonable in respect of—

(a) the provision of counselling services for that person; or

(b) making arrangements to secure counselling where the counselling is provided by a person outside the United Kingdom.

(3) The Registrar General may charge an intermediary agency the following fees in connection with requests for informationunderregulation 13—

(a) £36 for processing an initial request for information (whether or not information is provided);

(b) £14 for providing information in response to any subsequent request made in relation to the same applicant.

(4) An adoption agency may charge an intermediary agency such fee as it determines is reasonable for providing information or giving its views in accordance with a request underregulation 12.

(5) A court may charge an intermediary agency a fee not exceeding £20 for providing informationunderregulation 15.

Transitional provision for adoption support agencies awaiting registration

19.—(1) This regulation applies where a person carrying on an adoption support agency has applied to the registration authority to be registered in respect of it underPart 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000 before 30 ^th December 2005 and the application has not yet been determined.

(2) The adoption support agency shall be treated as if it were a registered adoption support agency for the purposes of these Regulations until it is notified whether its application has been finally determined.