(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order brings into force certain provisions of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (“the Act”). Article 2(1) brings into force, on 7th April 2008, all the provisions of the Act listed in the Schedule to the Order.
Section 120(1) of, and paragraph 9(1) and (5) of Schedule 2 to, the Act brings into force an amendment to section 44 (prohibition of publication of proceedings at children’s hearing) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 36) (“the 1995 Act”). New subsection (6) is inserted into section 44 of the 1995 Act with the effect that the bar on publicity around children subject to children’s hearing proceedings is amended to ensure that the bar does not apply where the publicity is for the purpose of making arrangements in relation to the child.
The interpretation provision in section 119(1) of the Act is also brought into force, as is section 2(3) in relation to the definition of “registered adoption service” in section 119(1). This is the first Commencement Order in respect of the Act. Sections 116, 117 and 121 came into force on Royal Assent (15th January 2007).