HC Deb 28 October 1975 vol 898 cc1462-3

Amendments made: No. 150, in page 17, line 40, leave out from '(5)' to 'The' in line 1 on page 18 and insert 'after the word "except" there are inserted the words "in accordance with section 20A of this Act or". (2) The following section is inserted in the 1958 Act after section 20:—

'Disclosure of birth records of adopted persons. 20A.—(1) Subject to subsections (4) and (6) of this section,'.

No. 22, in page 18, line 10, after and insert 'who'.

No. 151, in page 18, line 17, at end insert— '(3) It shall be the duty of the Registrar General and each local authority and approved adoption society to provide counselling for adopted persons who apply for information under subsection (1) of this section. (4) Before supplying any information to an applicant under subsection (1) of this section, the Registrar General shall inform the applicant that counselling services are available to him—

  1. (a) at the General Register Office; or
  2. (b) from the local authority for the area where the applicant is at the time the application is made; or
  3. (c) the local authority for the area where the court sat which made the adoption order relating to the applicant; or
  4. (d) if the applicant's adoption was arranged by an adoption society which is approved under section 4 of the Children Act 1975, from that society.
(5) If the applicant chooses to receive counselling from a local authority or an adoption society under subsection (4) the Registrar General shall send to the authority or society of the applicant's choice the information to which the applicant is entitled under subsection (1). (6) The Registrar General shall not supply a person who was adopted before the date on which the Children Act was passed with any information under subsection (1) of this section unless that person has attended an interview with a counsellor either at the General Register Office or in pursuance of arrangements made by the local authority or adoption society from whom the applicant is entitled to receive counselling in accordance with subsection (4)."'.—[Dr. Owen.]

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