The Adoption Agencies (Scotland) Regulations 2009: Scottish Government Response to Consultation

Regulation 4 - Meetings of the adoption panel and joint adoption panel

Question 4: The quorum is set at 3 in Regulation 3. Is this reasonable?

All of the responses felt that the quorum should not include the medical and legal advisers. It was also felt that it was not always necessary for the legal adviser to attend when the panel was considering whether adoption was in the best interests of the child or whether an application for a permanence order with authority for the child to be adopted should be made.

Scottish Government response/action

The Regulation has been adjusted to (a) exclude the medical and legal advisers from the quorum and (b) enable advice from the legal adviser to be a substitute for attendance at panel meetings.