Explanatory note

These Regulations make provision in relation to Scotland’s Adoption Register (“the Register”).

The Register was established by Chapter 1A of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 4) which was inserted by section 75 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 8). Provision is made in Chapter 1A in connection with the Register. Chapter 1A and these Regulations come into force on 1st April 2016.

These Regulations make provision about the information which the Register is to contain (regulation 3 and Schedules 1 and 2). Regulation 4 provides that where a Scottish adoption agency decides that adoption is in the child’s best interests or that an application should be made for a permanence order granting authority for a child to be adopted, information about that child must be provided to the Register. Regulation 5 provides that where a Scottish adoption agency decides that a person would be suitable to be an adoptive parent, information about that person must be provided to the Register. Regulation 6 makes provision about the retention of information on the Register. Regulation 7 authorises the disclosure of information from the Register in certain circumstances.

No business and regulatory impact assessment has been prepared for these Regulations as no impact upon business, charities or voluntary bodies is foreseen.