The Adoption Agencies Regulations 1983

Access to case records and disclosure of information

15.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), an adoption agency shall provide such access to its case records and the indexes to them and disclose such information in its possession, as may be required—

(a) to those holding an inquiry under section 76 of the Child Care Act 1980 (inquiries), for the purposes of such an inquiry,

(b) to the Secretary of State,

(c) subject to the provisions of sections 29(7) and 32(3) of the Local Government Act 1974 (investigations and disclosure), to a Local Commissioner, appointed under section 23 of that Act (Commissioners for Local Administration), for the purposes of any investigation conducted in accordance with Part III of that Act,

(d) to the persons and authorities referred to in regulations 11 and 12 to the extent specified in those regulations,

(e) to a guardian ad litem or reporting officer appointed under rules made pursuant to section 20 of the 1975 Act (guardian ad litem and reporting officer) for the purposes of the discharge of his duties in that behalf, and

(f) to a court having power to make an order under the Act, the Adoption Act 1968 or Part I of the 1975 Act for the purposes of the discharge of its duties in that behalf.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), an adoption agency may provide such access to its case records and the indexes to them and disclose such information in its possession, as it thinks fit—

(a) for the purposes of carrying out its functions as an adoption agency, and

(b) to a person who is authorised in writing by the Secretary of State to obtain information for the purposes of research.

(3) A written record shall be kept by an adoption agency of any access provided or disclosure made by virtue of this regulation.