n 1 of the Act places the needs and welfare of the child at the centre of the adoption process. It makes the welfare of the child the paramount consideration for a court or adoption agency in all decisions relating to adoption, including whether to dispense with a parent's consent to adoption. It provides under section 1(4) a welfare checklist that must be applied by a court or adoption agency. Section 1(2) sets out the general and overriding duty on a court or adoption agency: that in coming to any decision relating to the adoption of a child the paramount consideration should be the welfare of the child, throughout their life. Adoption agencies must be very aware of where delays may occur and ensure that their own internal procedures do not inadvertently contribute to this. A day here and a day there may not mean, in themselves, very much in terms of delay, but added together the time lost can be substantial. It must be remembered that time is not on the side of the child. It is therefore essential that an adoption agency, insofar as is reasonably practicable, involves and consults the child at all stages of the adoption process, ascertaining and taking into account their views in a way which is sensitive to, and consistent with, their age and understanding. Section 1(4)(a) of the Act places a duty on a court or adoption agency to have regard to the child's ascertainable wishes and feelings about adoption (considered in the light of the child's age and understanding). The provision of an adoption service Section 3 of the Act places a duty on local authorities to maintain an adoption service within their area, and sets out the minimum facilities that must be made available in the provision of the service. The local authority is not obliged to provide all the facilities