Commentary on Sections Adoption Section 6: Adoption support services: duty to provide information
68.This section inserts a new section 4B into the 2002 Act.
69.Section 4B(1) places a new duty on local authorities in England to provide a range of information about adoption support services and other prescribed information to any person who has contacted the local authority to request information about adopting a child, or has informed the local authority that they wish to adopt a child. Local authorities must also provide such information to any person within their area who they are aware is the parent of an adopted child or to any such person upon request. This subsection also makes provision for regulations to prescribe the circumstances in which a local authority does not need to provide the information.
70.Section 4B(2) sets out the information that the local authority must provide including information about the adoption support services available in their area and information about assessments for adoption support services. It also makes provision for regulations to prescribe other information that must be provided by the local authority.