
1 

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Foster Placement (Children) and Adoption Agencies Amendment (England) Regulations 2001 and shall come into force on 1st October 2001.
(2) These Regulations extend to England only.
2 

(1) Regulation 3 of the Foster Placement (Children) Regulations 1991 (approval of foster parents) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (4A)—
(a) for “A person” substitute “Subject to paragraph (4B) a person”;
(b) for the words “over the age of 18” substitute “aged 18 or over”.
(c) in sub-paragraph (a) after the words “specified offence” insert the words “committed at the age of 18 or over”.
(3) After paragraph (4A) insert the following paragraph—“
(4B) A local authority or a voluntary organisation may regard a person to whom paragraph (4A) would, apart from this paragraph, apply, as suitable to act (or to continue to act) as a foster parent in relation to a particular named child or children if it is satisfied that the welfare of that child or children requires it, and either—
(a) the person or a member of his household is a relative of the child; or
(b) the person is already acting as a foster parent for the child.”.
3 
Regulation 8A of the Adoption Agencies Regulations 1983 is amended as follows—
(a) in paragraphs (1) and (2), for the words “over the age of 18” substitute “aged 18 or over”;
(b) in sub-paragraph (2)(a) after the words “specified offence” insert the words “committed at the age of 18 or over”.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Health.
Jacqui Smith
Minister of State,
Department of Health
2nd September 2001