§ Mr. SillarsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the rights of access to centrally and locally held information of a person who was adopted; and what is the statutory basis upon which an adopted person can seek and obtain information about birth and natural parentage.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythIn Scotland the Registrar General is empowered to disclose to an adopted person aged 17 or over information which links the person's entry in the adopted children register to the original entry in the birth register. The statutory basis on which the Registrar General holds this information and controls access to it is provided by section 45 of the Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978. Under the terms of the Adoption Agencies (Scotland) Regulations 1984, adoption agencies are also empowered to disclose to an adopted person aged 17 or over information held by the adoption agency relating to that person's adoption.