For the purposes of this Part of this Act the expression “the Minister” means the Minister of Health as respects England and Wales, and the Secretary of State as respects Scotland.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , local authorities shall exercise their functions under this Part of this Act (including any discretion conferred on them thereunder). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in accordance with the provisions of any regulations of the Minister made for the purposes of this subsection.
Without prejudice to the generality of the last foregoing subsection, regulations thereunder—