Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Protection of Children (Access to Lists) (Prescribed Individuals) Regulations 2000, and come into force on 9th October 2000.

(2) In these Regulations-

(a)"the Adoption Agencies Regulations" means the Adoption Agencies Regulations 1983(2), and

(b)"prospective adopter" has the same meaning as in regulation 1(3) of the Adoption Agencies Regulations.

Prescribed individuals

2. For the purposes of section 103(2)(b) of the Care Standards Act 2000, a prospective adopter whose suitability to adopt a child is being considered pursuant to regulation 8(1) of the Adoption Agencies Regulations is an individual of a prescribed description.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations provide that, before the commencement of section 8 of the Protection of Children Act 1999 (1999 c. 14) and section 102 of the Care Standards Act 2000 (c. 14), a prospective adopter whose suitability to adopt a child is being considered under the Adoption Agencies Regulations 1983, (S.I. 1983/1964), is an individual of a prescribed description for the purposes of section 103(2)(b) of the Care Standards Act 2000. A person is therefore entitled, upon making an application to the Secretary of State, to information as to whether the prospective adopter is included either in the list kept under section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1999, the list kept for the purposes of regulations made under section 218(6) of the Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40), or any list kept of persons disqualified under section 470 or 471 of the Education Act 1996 (c. 56) for the purpose of considering his suitability to adopt.