Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007

Charging

66Power to charge

(1)This section applies to adoptions to which—

(a)section 58 applies, or

(b)regulations made under section 1 of the Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act 1999 (c. 18) apply.

(2)The Scottish Ministers may charge a fee to adopters for services provided or to be provided by them in relation to adoptions to which this section applies.

(3)The Scottish Ministers may determine the level of fee as they see fit and may, in particular—

(a)charge a flat fee or charge different fees in different cases or descriptions of case,

(b)in any case or description of case, waive a fee.

(4)The Scottish Ministers must secure that, taking one financial year with another, the income from fees under this section does not exceed the total cost to them of providing the services in relation to which the fees are imposed.

(5)In this section, “financial year” means a period of 12 months ending with 31 March.

(6)Any references in this section—

(a)to adoptions include prospective adoptions, and

(b)to adopters include prospective adopters.