78.Where, under section 18, a local authority receives notice of intention to apply for an adoption order, it must, by virtue of subsection (2), investigate the matter and submit a report of the investigation to the court.
79.Subsection (3) specifies the factors which the local authority must, in particular, investigate, which are, as far as is reasonably practicable, the suitability of the applicants and any other matters relevant to the operation of section 14; any contravention of section 75; and any failure to comply with section 76(2) of the Act.
80.By virtue of subsection (4), if a local authority receives a notice under section 18, and it is aware that the child is being looked after by another local authority, it must give a copy of the notice to that local authority within seven days of receipt.