21. (1) A qualifying person (in this section referred to as an “applicant”) may apply in writing to a relevant body for the provision by the relevant body to him or her of the birth information that is held by the relevant body and that relates to his or her relevant parent.

(2) Subject to this section, a relevant body, on application to it in accordance with subsection (1) —

(a) shall, to the extent that it is practicable to do so, provide the applicant with a copy of the records specified in subsection (4) that it holds that contain the birth information to which the application relates, and

(b) may provide the applicant with a statement setting out the birth information contained in the records that it holds.

(3) A relevant body shall comply with subsection (2) only where it is satisfied that—

(a) the applicant is a qualifying person, and

(b) each person named in the records containing the birth information concerned as a parent of the relevant parent concerned is deceased.

(4) The records referred to in subsection (2)(a) are the following:

(a) a record relating to a person’s birth, the registration of a person’s birth or a person’s adoption;

(b) a record created or held by a registered adoption society or an institution specified in the Schedule;

(c) a record of such class as the Minister may prescribe.

(5) Where a relevant body that receives an application under subsection (1) does not hold the birth information to which the application relates, it shall, in writing and without delay, inform the applicant of that fact.