Explanatory note

These Regulations are made under the Adoption Act 1976. They apply in respect of England only and in relation to specified cases only. They make provision for the review by an independent panel of a determination made by an adoption agency that it does not propose to approve a prospective adopter as suitable to be an adoptive parent.

Regulation 2 defines a “qualifying determination”. Part 2 makes provision for the constitution, functions, membership, payment of expenses, meetings and record keeping of the panels which are appointed by the Secretary of State to review qualifying determinations.

Part 3 makes provision for the procedure to be followed when a review of a qualifying determination by a panel constituted under Part 2 is sought by a prospective adopter and for the amendment of the Adoption Agencies Regulations 1983 to take account of this review procedure.

A regulatory impact assessment has been prepared for these Regulations and a copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament. Copies of the regulatory impact assessment can be obtained from the Adoption Team, Looked After Children Division, Area 104, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG. Alternatively it may be viewed on www.doh.gov.uk/adoption/law.htm#ria or the Department for Education and Skills’s website http://www.dfes.gov.uk/ria/current.shtml.