Section 63: Counselling
180.Section 63 makes provision in respect of counselling for those seeking information under these sections, those considering consenting to or objecting to the disclosure of information, and those considering an agreement for the sharing of protected information under section 57(5). Subsection (1) provides a power to make regulations to require adoption agencies to provide information about access to counselling services and subsection (2) provides for regulations to require adoption agencies to make arrangements to secure the provision of counselling to those seeking information in prescribed circumstances. The intention is to make counselling available to an adopted person, if he wishes to access it, where he applies to the agency for the disclosure of protected information about another person. Subsection (3) provides a power to make regulations to enable adoption agencies to disclose the information that is needed by the counselling agency for the purposes of providing the counselling. Where the counselling it to be provided outside the United Kingdom, the adoption agency may require the person who is to receive the counselling to pay a prescribed fee.
