No obligation to proceed if not appropriateU.K.
6.—(1) An intermediary agency that accepts an application under these Regulations is not required to proceed with it, or having begun to proceed with it is not required to continue, if the intermediary agency considers that it would not be appropriate to do so.
(2) In deciding whether it is appropriate to proceed (or continue proceeding) with an application the intermediary agency must have regard to—
(a)the welfare of—
(i)the applicant;
(ii)the subject; and
(iii)any other persons who may be identified or otherwise affected by the application;
(b)any views of the appropriate adoption agency obtained under regulation 12;
(c)any information obtained from the Adoption Contact Register under regulation 13,
and all the other circumstances of the case.
(3) In relation to any decision under paragraph (2) the intermediary agency must have particular regard to the welfare of any person mentioned in paragraph (2)(a)(iii) who is under the age of 18.
(4) If, at any time, the intermediary agency ascertains that the subject of an application is under the age of 18 it must not proceed further with the application in relation to that subject.