Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations, which apply to England only, amend the National Care Standards Commission (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) (Adoption Agencies) Regulations 2003 in order to increase by 20% the amount of the fees that voluntary adoption agencies pay to the Commission for Social Care Inspection under Part 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000. The National Care Standards Commission has been abolished and the functions it performed in relation to Part 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000, to which these fees relate, transferred to the Commission for Social Care Inspection with effect from 1st April 2004.
The increases take effect from 1st April 2005.
Regulations 2 to 4 make provision for increases in the fees to be paid in respect of voluntary adoption agencies on an application for registration (regulation 2), an application for the variation or removal of any condition that is in force in relation to a registration (regulation 3) and the payment of an annual fee (regulation 4).
Regulation 5 revokes regulation 6 (annual fee paid by local authorities) of the National Care Standards Commission (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) (Adoption Agencies) Regulations 2003.
A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been carried out for these Regulations and a copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament. Copies of the Regulatory Impact Assessment can be obtained from the Department for Education and Skills' website http://www.dfes.gov.uk/ria.