ion to VAA. Offence: AIR 21 11.74. The inappropriate disclosure of protected information could be distressing and may even place individuals, including children, at risk of harm. AIR 21 therefore makes it a criminal offence for a voluntary adoption agency to disclose any information in contravention of section 57 of the Act. See Annex A. Fees charged by adoption agencies: AIR 22 11.75. The Act and the AIR make provision for the charging of fees by adoption agencies in connection with the disclosure of information and the provision of counselling. An adoption agency has the discretion to charge a fee to any person to cover any reasonable costs incurred in processing an application for the disclosure of information and the provision of counselling, or to waive its fees in whole or in part where, for example, the person seeking the disclosure of information has a limited ability to pay. 11.76. The exception to this is that no fee may be charged to an adopted person in respect of any information disclosed to them about a birth relative or counselling given in connection with that disclosure. See section 64(5) of the Act and AIR 22. Giving agencies the discretion to charge a fee recognises the additional work that they are required to undertake by sections 61 and 62 of the Act, including the requirement to seek the views of any person who may be identified by the disclosure of protected information. 11.77. It is important that potential service users are made aware of any fees that may apply before the agency agrees to process their application. The agency should make it clear that any fee charged will be limited to covering the costs it incurs in processing an application. This could include any costs incurred in tracing an individual to seek their views, gathering addition