PART I GENERAL

Citation and interpretation

1.–(1) This Order may be cited as the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (Commencement No. 4, Transitional and Savings Provisions) Order 2009.

(2) In this Order–

"the Act" means the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007;

"the 1978 Act" means the Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978(2);

"the 1995 Act" means the Children (Scotland) Act 1995(3);

"the Agencies Regulations 1996" means the Adoption Agencies (Scotland) Regulations 1996(4);

"the Agencies Regulations 2009" means the Adoption Agencies (Scotland) Regulations 2009(5);

"the appointed day" means 28th September 2009;

"the Foreign Element Regulations" means the Adoptions with a Foreign Element (Scotland) Regulations 2009(6);

"freeing order" means an order granted under section 18(7) of the 1978 Act or varied under section 21(8) of that Act;

"the Hague Convention Regulations" means the Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) (Scotland) Regulations 2003(9);

"the Overseas Adoption Regulations" means the Adoption of Children from Overseas (Scotland) Regulations 2001(10);

"parental responsibilities order" has the meaning given by section 86 of the 1995 Act(11);

PART II COMMENCEMENT

Appointed day

2. All the provisions of the Act, in so far as not already in force, come into force on the appointed day.

PART III TRANSITIONAL AND SAVINGS PROVISIONS

CHAPTER 1 ADOPTION

Applications for adoption orders under the 1978 Act

3.–(1) Where, before the appointed day, an application for an adoption order has been made under section 14 (adoption by married couple) or 15 (adoption by one person)(12) of the 1978 Act and not yet determined the provisions of that Act continue to have effect in respect of that application.

(2) Where a court has postponed the determination of an application for an adoption order made under the 1978 Act and granted an order under section 25 (interim orders)(13) of that Act, that order will continue to have effect.

Restrictions on removal of children: pending applications for adoption

4. Sections 28 (restrictions on removal where applicant has provided home for 5 years)(14) and 29 (return of child taken away in breach of s.27 or 28)(15) of the 1978 Act continue to have effect where an application for an adoption order has been made under section 14 or 15 of the 1978 Act and not yet determined on the appointed day.

Cases in progress under the Agencies Regulations 1996

5.–(1) This article applies where a case is still in progress on the appointed day under a provision of the Agencies Regulations 1996.

(2) Any action or decision under a provision of the Agencies Regulations 1996 will, on or after the appointed day, be treated as if it were an action or decision under the corresponding provision of the Agencies Regulations 2009.

(3) Where, before the appointed day, an adoption panel has considered–

(a) whether adoption is in the best interests of the child;

(b) whether a prospective adopter is suitable to adopt a child; or

(c) whether a prospective adopter would be a suitable adoptive parent for a particular child,

and no decision on that question has been made by the adoption agency before the appointed day, the Agencies Regulations 1996 continue to apply for the purposes of making that decision.

(4) Where an adoption agency makes a decision under the Agencies Regulations 1996 (whether before the appointed day or, by virtue of paragraph (3), on or after that day) that a prospective adopter is suitable to adopt a particular child–

(a) the Agencies Regulations 1996 continue to apply for the purposes of placing the child with the prospective adopter; and

(b) any such placement will be treated as if it were made under the Agencies Regulations 2009.

(5) Where an adoption agency makes a decision under the Agencies Regulations 1996 (whether before the appointed day or, by virtue of paragraph (3), on or after that day) that a prospective adopter is not suitable to be an adoptive parent–

(a) the Agencies Regulations 1996 continue to apply for the purposes of providing notification of its decision; and

(b) regulations 8 (approval of prospective adopters) and 9 (review of adoption agency decisions) of the Agencies Regulations 2009 will not apply.

CHAPTER 2 INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION

Application for Convention adoption orders

6. Where, before the appointed day, an application for a Convention adoption order has been made in accordance with the Hague Convention Regulations and section 17(16) (convention adoption orders) of the 1978 Act and not yet determined, those Regulations and the provisions of that Act continue to apply in respect of that application.

Hague Convention adoption cases in progress

7.–(1) This article applies where a case is still in progress on the appointed day under a provision of the Hague Convention Regulations.

(2) Any action or decision under a provision of the Hague Convention Regulations will, on or after the appointed day, be treated as if it were an action or decision under the corresponding provision of the Foreign Element Regulations.

(3) Where, before the appointed day, an adoption panel has considered–

(a) whether or not adoption by a person habitually resident in a Convention country outside the British Islands is in the best interests of the child; or

(b) whether a prospective adopter is suitable to adopt a child,

and no decision has been made by the adoption agency before the appointed day, the Hague Convention Regulations will continue to apply for the purposes of making that decision.

(4) Where an adoption agency makes a decision under the Hague Convention Regulations (whether before the appointed day or, by virtue of paragraph (3), on or after that day) that a prospective adopter is not suitable to adopt a child, regulation 8(4) to (9) (adoption agency decision, notification and review procedure) of the Hague Convention Regulations will apply.

Non-Convention adoption cases in progress

8.–(1) This article applies where a case is still in progress on the appointed day under a provision of the Overseas Adoption Regulations.

(2) Any action or decision under a provision of the Overseas Adoption Regulations will, on or after the appointed day, be treated as if it were an action or decision under the corresponding provision of the Foreign Element Regulations.

(3) Paragraphs (4) and (5) apply where, before the appointed day, the prospective adopter has received notification from the Secretary of State that the Secretary of State is prepared to issue the certificate referred to in regulation 3(2)(c) of the Overseas Adoption Regulations.

(4) Where the prospective adopter has visited the child but the child has not entered the United Kingdom before the appointed day regulation 4(2)(b) to (d) of the Foreign Element Regulations will not apply.

(5) Where the child has entered the United Kingdom but the prospective adopter has not, before the appointed day, given notice of intention to adopt in accordance with regulation 3(3) of the Overseas Adoption Regulations, regulation 4(2)(b) to (d) and (3) of the Foreign Element Regulations will not apply.

Non-Convention adoptions: local authority functions following receipt of notice of intention to adopt

9.–(1) This article applies where notice of intention to adopt is given before the appointed day by a prospective adopter in accordance with regulation 3(3) of the Overseas Adoption Regulations.

(2) For the purposes of regulation 5(1)(b) of the Foreign Element Regulations notice is deemed to have been given in accordance with section 18(2) (notification to local authority of adoption application) of the Act.

(3) Where the local authority has not visited the child and the prospective adopter before the appointed day and more than one week has elapsed since the receipt of the notice referred to in paragraph (1) the date of receipt of that notice is deemed to be 28th September 2009 for the purposes of regulation 5(2)(f) and (g) of the Foreign Element Regulations.

(4) Where the local authority has visited the child and the prospective adopter before the appointed day–

(a) the authority must, if it has not already done so, carry out the functions imposed by regulation 5(2)(f) to (i) of the Foreign Elements Regulations; and

(b) where the review considering the matters referred to in regulation 5(2)(h) of the Foreign Elements Regulations has not been carried out before the appointed day, the date of receipt of the notice referred to in paragraph (1) is deemed to be 28th September 2009 for the purposes of regulation 5(2)(g) of those Regulations.

Applications under section 47 of the 1978 Act

10. Where, before the appointed day, an application under section 47(17) (annulment etc. of overseas adoptions) of the 1978 Act has been made to the Court of Session and not yet determined the provisions of the 1978 Act have effect in respect of that application.

Applications under section 49 of the 1978 Act

11. Where, before the appointed day, an application for an order under section 49(18) (adoption of children abroad) of the 1978 Act has been made to the court and not yet determined the provisions of the 1978 Act have effect in respect of that application.

Designation of Overseas Adoptions

12. Despite the repeal of sections 60(4) (orders, rules and regulations)(19) and 65(2) (interpretation: overseas adoption)(20) of the 1978 Act, the following Orders continue to have effect as they did immediately before the appointed day and are deemed to have been made under section 67 (meaning of "overseas adoption") of the Act:–

(a) the Adoption (Designation of Overseas Adoptions) Order 1973(21); and

(b) the Adoption (Designation of Overseas Adoptions) (Variation) (Scotland) Order 1995(22).

CHAPTER 3 PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES ORDERS

Parental responsibilities orders made before the appointed day: deemed permanence order

13.–(1) A child who is subject to a parental responsibilities order immediately before the appointed day shall be treated as if they were subject to a permanence order.

(2) The permanence order will be deemed to consist of–

(a) the mandatory provision specified in section 81(1) (permanence order: mandatory provision) of the Act;

(b) the following ancillary provisions specified in section 82(1) (permanence orders: ancillary provisions) of the Act vesting in the local authority:–

(i) the parental responsibilities mentioned in section 1(1) (parental responsibilities) of the 1995 Act(23); and

(ii) the parental rights mentioned in section 2(1) (parental rights) of the 1995 Act(24); and

(c) any condition in the parental responsibilities order imposed under section 86(5) (parental responsibilities order: general) of the 1995 Act which–

(i) specifies arrangements for contact between the child and any other person; or

(ii) determines any question in connection with any parental responsibilities or parental rights in relation to the child or any other aspect of the welfare of the child.

(3) In this article "local authority" means the authority on whose application the parental responsibilities order was made.

Applications for parental responsibilities orders under the 1995 Act

14.–(1) Where, before the appointed day, an application for a parental responsibilities order has been made to the sheriff under section 86(1) of the 1995 Act and not yet determined sections 86 to 89 of that Act continue to have effect in respect of that application.

(2) Where the sheriff makes a parental responsibilities order following an application referred to in paragraph (1) the child who is subject to that order shall be treated as if they were subject to a permanence order and article 13(2) and (3) applies to that deemed permanence order.

Applications to vary, amend or revoke a deemed permanence order

15.–(1) This article applies where a child is subject to a permanence order by virtue of article 13(1) or 14(2) and an application to vary, amend or revoke the permanence order is made under section 92 (variation of ancillary provisions in order), 93 (amendment of order to grant authority for child to be adopted) or 98 (revocation) of the Act.

(2) Section 92 of the Act applies as if for paragraph (d) of subsection (3) there were substituted–

"(d) any person in whom were vested any parental responsibilities or parental rights which, by virtue of the making of a parental responsibilities order in respect of the child, vest in a local authority.".

(3) Section 93 of the Act applies as if for paragraph (b) in subsection (6) in the definition of "parent" there were substituted–

"(b) who, by virtue of the making of a parental responsibilities order, no longer has any such responsibilities or rights.".

(4) In section 94 (proceedings) of the Act–

(a) for the purposes of subsection (1) the reference to any person who is affected by the order includes any person in whom were vested any parental responsibilities or parental rights which, by virtue of the making of a parental responsibilities order in respect of the child, vest in a local authority;

(b) subsection (3) applies as if for paragraph (e) there were substituted–

"(e) any person in whom were vested any parental responsibilities or parental rights which, by virtue of the making of a parental responsibilities order in respect of the child, vest in a local authority.".

(5) For the purposes of section 98(2)(b) of the Act the reference to any other person affected by the order includes any person in whom were vested any parental responsibilities or parental rights which, by virtue of the making of a parental responsibilities order in respect of the child, vest in a local authority.

CHAPTER 4 FREEING ORDERS

Freeing orders made before the appointed day

16.–(1) This article applies where a child is subject to a freeing order–

(a) immediately before the appointed day; or

(b) by virtue of an order granted following an application referred to in article 18.

(2) Subject to section 35 (effect of order on existing rights etc.) of the Act the freeing order shall continue to have effect until 28th September 2010.

(3) Despite their repeal the provisions of the 1978 Act continue to have effect as they did immediately before the appointed day to the extent required for the purposes of paragraph (2).

Deemed permanence order granting authority for the child to be adopted

17.–(1) Where, immediately before 28th September 2010 a child is subject to a freeing order by virtue of article 16 that child shall be treated as if they were subject to a permanence order.

(2) The permanence order will be deemed to consist of–

(a) the mandatory provision specified in section 81(1) of the Act;

(b) the following ancillary provisions specified in section 82(1) of the Act vesting in the local authority:–

(i) the parental responsibilities mentioned in section 1(1) of the 1995 Act;

(ii) the parental rights mentioned in section 2(1) of the 1995 Act; and

(c) provision granting authority for the child to be adopted.

(3) In this article "local authority" means the authority in whom the parental responsibilities and parental rights in relation to the child were transferred by virtue of the freeing order or a variation thereof granted under section 21(25) (variation of section 18 order so as to substitute one adoption agency for another) of the 1978 Act.

Applications for freeing orders under the 1978 Act

18. Where, before the appointed day, an application for a freeing order has been made under section 18 (freeing child for adoption) of the 1978 Act and not yet determined the provisions of the 1978 Act have effect in respect of that application.

Applications to revoke freeing orders under section 20 of the 1978 Act

19.–(1) Where an application to revoke a freeing order under section 20 of the 1978 Act has been made immediately before 28th September 2010 and not yet determined by the court, the provisions of the 1978 Act have effect in respect of that application.

(2) Where paragraph (1) applies and the court determines not to revoke the freeing order the child who is subject to that freeing order shall be treated as if they were subject to a permanence order and article 17(2) and (3) applies to that deemed permanence order.

Applications for adoption orders where freeing order in place

20.–(1) This article applies where an application is made for an adoption order under section 29 (adoption by certain couples) or 30 (adoption by one person) of the Act in respect of a child who is subject to a freeing order.

(2) Section 31 (parental etc. consent) of the Act applies as if for subsection (7) there were substituted–

"(7) The second condition is that the child has been freed for adoption by virtue of an order made under section 18 of the Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978.".

Applications to vary or revoke a deemed permanence order

21.–(1) This article applies where a child is subject to a permanence order by virtue of article 17(1) or 19(2) and an application to vary or revoke the permanence order is made under section 92 or 98 of the Act.

(2) Section 92 of the Act applies as if for paragraph (d) of subsection (3) there were substituted–

"(d) any person in whom were vested any parental responsibilities or parental rights which, by virtue of the making of a freeing order in respect of the child, vest in a local authority.".

(3) In section 94 of the Act–

(a) for the purposes of subsection (1) the reference to any person who is affected by the order includes any person in whom were vested any parental responsibilities or parental rights which, by virtue of the making of a freeing order in respect of the child, vest in a local authority;

(b) subsection (3) applies as if for paragraph (d) there were substituted–

"(d) any person in whom were vested any parental responsibilities or parental rights which, by virtue of the making of a freeing order in respect of the child, vest in a local authority.".

(4) For the purposes of section 98(2)(b) of the Act the reference to any other person affected by the order includes any person in whom were vested any parental responsibilities or parental rights which, by virtue of the making of a freeing order in respect of the child, vest in a local authority.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order is the fourth Commencement Order made under the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 ("the Act"). It also makes transitional and savings provisions.

Part I deals with citation and interpretation.

Part II, article 2 brings all those provisions of the Act which are not already in force into effect on 28th September 2009.

Part III makes transitional and savings provision.

Chapter 1 of Part III concerns adoption. Article 3 saves the provisions of the Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978 ("the 1978 Act") in cases where an application for an adoption order is made before 28th September 2009 but has not yet been determined by the court or where the court has postponed the determination of such an application and granted an interim order.

Article 4 saves sections 28 and 29 of the 1978 Act in cases where an application for an adoption order under that Act has not yet been determined.

Article 5 applies to cases where an adoption order has not yet been made but the case is being progressed under the Adoption Agencies (Scotland) Regulations 1996. Any action or decision taken under those Regulations will be deemed to have been taken under the corresponding provision of the Adoption Agencies (Scotland) Regulations 2009 subject to the exceptions set out in paragraphs (3), (4) and (5).

Chapter 2 of Part III makes transitional and savings provision for intercountry adoption. Article 6 saves the provisions of the 1978 Act and the Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) (Scotland) Regulations 2003 where an application for a Convention adoption order has been made before the appointed day and not yet determined by the court. Article 7 applies to cases being progressed under those Regulations. Articles 8 and 9 apply to adoptions outwith the scope of the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption(26). Articles 10 and 11 save the provisions of the 1978 Act for applications made under section 47 or 49 of that Act which have not yet been determined. Article 12 saves the Adoption (Designation of Overseas Adoption) Order 1973 which designates as an overseas adoption those adoptions effected under the law of countries outwith the British Islands, but excluding Hague Convention adoptions.

Chapter 3 of Part III makes provision for cases where a child is subject to a parental responsibilities order made under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. Article 13 provides that on the appointed day all such orders will be deemed to be permanence orders under the Act. Article 14 makes savings provision for applications for parental responsibilities orders which have not yet been determined by the court. Article 15 makes provision for cases where an application is made to vary, amend or revoke the deemed permanence order.

Chapter 4 of Part III makes provision for freeing orders granted under the 1978 Act. Such orders will continue to have effect until 28th September 2010 unless an adoption order is made in respect of the child (article 16) after which time they will become deemed permanence orders granting authority for the child to be adopted (article 17). Article 18 makes savings provision for applications for freeing orders which have not yet been determined by the court. Article 19 saves the provisions of the 1978 Act where an application to revoke a freeing order has been made but not yet determined. Article 20 applies section 31 of the Act with modifications where a child is subject to a freeing order and an application for an adoption order is subsequently made under the Act. Article 21 makes provision for cases where an application is made to vary or revoke the deemed permanence order.

NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT ORDERS

(This note is not part of the Order)

The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 ("the Act") received Royal Assent on 15th January 2007 and sections 116, 117 and 121 came into force on that day. The first commencement order, the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2008 (S.S.I. 2008/130), was made on 19th March 2008. The second commencement order, the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2008 (S.S.I. 2008/282), was made on 18th August 2008. The third commencement order, the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/147), was made on 9th April 2009. The provisions of the Act commenced by those Orders are detailed in the table below. All of the provisions commenced on 20th April 2009 by S.S.I. 2009/147 came into force only for the purpose of making regulations, orders or rules under the provision so specified.