119Advocacy services
After section 26 of the 1989 Act there is inserted—
“26AAdvocacy services
(1)Every local authority shall make arrangements for the provision of assistance to—
(a)persons who make or intend to make representations under section 24D; and
(b)children who make or intend to make representations under section 26.
(2)The assistance provided under the arrangements shall include assistance by way of representation.
(3)The arrangements—
(a)shall secure that a person may not provide assistance if he is a person who is prevented from doing so by regulations made by the Secretary of State; and
(b)shall comply with any other provision made by the regulations in relation to the arrangements.
(4)The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring local authorities to monitor the steps that they have taken with a view to ensuring that they comply with regulations made for the purposes of subsection (3).
(5)Every local authority shall give such publicity to their arrangements for the provision of assistance under this section as they consider appropriate.”