race a person and seek their views. 11.26. Depending on the circumstances of each case, the adoption agency may wish to make an arrangement with an ASA or another adoption agency to undertake this work on its behalf. Therefore, AIR 8.2.a permits the agency to disclose its section 56 information to an ASA or an adoption agency to enable these bodies to be able to trace a person (or persons) and seek their views on the agency’s behalf. The agency working on behalf of the adoption agency will be able to obtain the person’s views as to the disclosure of information about themselves and report those views back to the original adoption agency. The responsibility for making a determination as to whether to disclose the information being sought will remain with the adoption agency that received the initial application. 11.27. Before making such an arrangement with an ASA or adoption agency, the adoption agency must first be satisfied that the conditions of the ASA’s or VAA’s registration do not prevent it from providing such services; and that the ASA or adoption agency has the requisite skills and experience to manage each individual case, especially those involving difficult or complex issues. 11.28. The adoption agency should also seek the prior agreement of the ASA or adoption agency providing services on its behalf that any section 56 information it discloses will only be used for the purposes for which it was disclosed. 213 11.29. An adoption agency may disclose to a researcher authorised in writing by the Secretary of State, section 56 information and protected information. It is for the adoption agency to decide if it wishes to participate in any research, as the Secretary of State cannot commit any agency to research activity. A Department for Education civil servant, 