156.—(1) In Article 33 (meaning of “protected child”), after paragraph (1) insert the following paragraph—
“(1A) A child shall be deemed to be a protected child for the purposes of this Part if he is a protected child within the meaning of—
(a)section 32 of the Adoption Act 1976; or
(b)section 32 of the Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978.”.
(2) In paragraph (2)(a), for heads (i) to (iii) substitute the following heads—
“(i)any school in which he is receiving full-time education;
(ii)any children’s home or voluntary home;
(iii)any hospital;
(iv)any home or institution not specified in heads (i) to (iii) but provided by the Secretary of State, a government department or a prescribed public body; or”.
(3) After paragraph (2) insert the following paragraph—
“(2A) Paragraph (2)(a) shall be construed in accordance with Article 2(2) of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (interpretation).”.
(4) For paragraph (3) substitute the following paragraphs—
“(3) A protected child ceases to be a protected child—
(a)on the grant or refusal of the application for an adoption order;
(b)on the notification to the Board or HSS trust for the area where the child has his home that the application for an adoption order has been withdrawn;
(c)in a case where no application is made for an adoption order, on the expiry of the period of two years from the giving of the notice;
(d)on the making of a residence order, a care order or a supervision order under the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 in respect of the child;
(e)on the appointment of a guardian for him under that Order;
(f)on his attaining the age of 18 years; or
(g)on his marriage,
whichever first occurs.
(4) In paragraph (3)(d) the references to a care order and a supervision order do not include references to an interim care order or interim supervision order.”.