Section 21 Reports.C1

United Kingdom

Where the Lord ChancellorF1, the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland or the Secretary of State is requested to make enquiries about a child under Article 15(1)(b) of the Convention he may—

(a)

request a local authority or F2an officer of the ServiceF3or a Welsh family proceedings officer to make a report to him in writing with respect to any matter relating to the child concerned which appears to him to be relevant;

(b)

request the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland to arrange for a suitably qualified person to make such a report to him;

(c)

request any court to which a written report relating to the child has been made to send him a copy of the report;

and any such request shall be duly complied with.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Words in s. 21 inserted (12.4.2010) by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), art. 1(2), Sch. 18 para. 37 (with arts. 28-31)
F2: Words in s. 21(a) substituted (1.4.2001) by 2000 c. 43, s. 74, 80(1), Sch. 7 Pt. II para. 80; S.I. 2001/919, art. 2(f)(ii)
F3: Words in s. 21(a) inserted (E.W.) (1.4.2005) by Children Act 2004 (c. 31), s. 67(6), Sch. 3 para. 3; S.I. 2005/700, art. 2(2)

Modifications

C1

S. 21 applied (with modifications) (1.3.1997) by S.I. 1996/3156, art. 2, Sch.

S. 21 applied (with modifications) (2.12.1997) by S.I. 1997/2574 art. 2, Sch.