{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/adoption-and-children-act-2002/section-131",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/adoption-and-children-act-2002/section-131.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2002/38",
  "legislation_title": "Adoption and Children Act 2002",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/adoption-and-children-act-2002",
  "path": "section/131",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "131",
  "heading": "Supplementary",
  "text": "(1) In this group of sections—\n(za) adoption agency” means—\n(i) a local authority in England,\n(ii) a registered adoption society whose principal office is in England,\n(a) “organisation” includes a public body and a private or voluntary organisation,\n(b) “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations,\n(c) “the register” means the Adoption and Children Act Register,\n(ca) Welsh adoption agency” means—\n(i) a local authority in Wales,\n(ii) a registered adoption society whose principal office is in Wales.\n(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(2) For the purposes of this group of sections (except sections 125(1A) and 129(2A)) —\n(a) a child is suitable for adoption if an adoption agency is satisfied that the child ought to be placed for adoption,\n(b) prospective adopters are suitable to adopt a child if an adoption agency is satisfied that they are suitable to have a child placed with them for adoption.\n(2A) For the purposes of sections 125(1A) and 129(2A)—\n(a) a child is suitable for adoption if a Welsh, Scottish or Northern Irish adoption agency is satisfied that the child ought to be placed for adoption,\n(b) prospective adopters are suitable to adopt a child if a Welsh, Scottish or Northern Irish adoption agency is satisfied that they are suitable to have a child placed with them for adoption.\n(3) Nothing authorised or required to be done by virtue of this group of sections constitutes an offence under section 93, 94 or 95.\n(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "status": "prospective",
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Ss. 125-131 cease to have effect (S.) (13.5.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 1 para. 11(1); S.I. 2014/889, art. 5(f)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 131(1)(za) inserted (13.5.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 1 para. 8(2)(a); S.I. 2014/889, art. 5(f)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Word in s. 131(1)(b) substituted (13.5.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 1 para. 8(2)(b); S.I. 2014/889, art. 5(f)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "S. 131(1)(ca) inserted (13.5.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 1 para. 8(2)(c); S.I. 2014/889, art. 5(f)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 131(1)(d) omitted (13.5.2014) by virtue of Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 1 para. 8(2)(d); S.I. 2014/889, art. 5(f)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "S. 131(1)(e) omitted (13.5.2014) by virtue of Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 1 para. 8(2)(d); S.I. 2014/889, art. 5(f)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 131(2) inserted (13.5.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 1 para. 8(3); S.I. 2014/889, art. 5(f)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "S. 131(2A) inserted (13.5.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 1 para. 8(4); S.I. 2014/889, art. 5(f)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "S. 131(4)-(7) omitted (13.5.2014) by virtue of Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 1 para. 8(5); S.I. 2014/889, art. 5(f)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/38/section/131",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:18:55.944329+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}