(1)Subject to subsection (3), an adoption agency which is—
(a)a local authority must, within such period after the coming into force of this section as the Scottish Ministers may by order direct, prepare an adoption allowances scheme,
(b)a registered adoption service may prepare such a scheme.
(2)An adoption allowances scheme is a scheme for or in connection with the payment by the agency of allowances to any person who has adopted, or intends to adopt, a child in any case where arrangements for the adoption were made or, as the case may be, are to be made by the agency.
(3)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision for or in connection with adoption allowances schemes.
(4)Regulations under subsection (3) may in particular make provision for or in connection with specifying—
(a)the procedure to be followed by an agency in determining whether a person should be paid an allowance,
(b)the circumstances in which an allowance may be paid,
(c)the factors to be taken into account in determining the amount of an allowance,
(d)the procedure for review, variation and termination of allowances,
(e)the information about allowances which is to be supplied by an agency to a person who intends to adopt a child, and
(f)the procedure to be followed by an agency in preparing, modifying or revoking an adoption allowances scheme.