PART 3DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION — GENERAL

Disclosure of section 56 information for the purposes of inquiries, inspection etc.8

An adoption agency must disclose section 56 information (including protected information) as may be required—

a

to those holding an inquiry under section 17 of the Act, section 81 of the Children Act 198912 or section 1 of the Inquiries Act 200513 for the purposes of such an inquiry;

b

subject to the provisions of s.74(5) of the Care Standards Act 2000 to the Children’s Commissioner for Wales14 for the purposes of any examination conducted in accordance with Part V of that Act;

c

to the National Assembly for Wales;

d

subject to the provisions of sections 29(7) and 32(3) of the Local Government Act 197415 (investigations and disclosure), to the Commission for Local Administration in Wales, for the purpose of an investigation conducted in accordance with Part III of that Act;

e

to any person appointed by the adoption agency for the purpose of the consideration by the agency of any representations (including complaints);

f

to a panel constituted under section 12 of the Act to consider a qualifying determination in relation to the disclosure of section 56 information;

g

to a Welsh family proceedings officer or an officer of CAFCASS for the purposes of the discharge of the officer’s duties under the Act;

h

to a court having power to make an order under the Act or under the Children Act 1989.