It shall be the duty of every local authority to satisfy themselves that the welfare of children who are or are proposed to be privately fostered within their area is being or will be satisfactorily safeguarded and promoted and to secure that such advice is given to those concerned with them as appears to the authority to be needed.
The Secretary of State may make regulations—
Regulations under subsection (2)(b) may impose requirements as to the action to be taken by a local authority for the purposes of discharging their duty under subsection (1) where they have received notification of a proposal that a child be privately fostered.
Where any person who is authorised by a local authority to visit for the purpose has reasonable cause to believe that—
he may at any reasonable time inspect those premises and any children there.
Any person exercising the power under subsection (3) shall, if so required, produce some duly authenticated document showing his authority to do so.
Where a local authority are not satisfied that the welfare of any child who is or is proposed to be privately fostered within their area is being or will be satisfactorily safeguarded or promoted they shall—
parental responsibility for him; or
The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring a local authority to monitor the way in which the authority discharge their functions under this Part (and the regulations may in particular require the authority to appoint an officer for that purpose).