48(1)For section 27 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (children and young persons in care of local authority) there shall be substituted the following section—
Where—
(a)a patient who is a child or young person is in the care of a local authority by virtue of a care order within the meaning of the Children Act 1989; or
(b)the rights and powers of a parent of a patient who is a child or young person are vested in a local authority by virtue of section 16 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968,
the authority shall be deemed to be the nearest relative of the patient in preference to any person except the patient’s husband or wife (if any).”
(2)Section 28 of that Act (nearest relative of minor under guardianship, etc.) is amended as mentioned in sub-paragraphs (3) and (4).
(3)For subsection (1) there shall be substituted—
“(1)Where—
(a)a guardian has been appointed for a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years; or
(b)a residence order (as defined by section 8 of the Children Act 1989) is in force with respect to such a person,
the guardian (or guardians, where there is more than one) or the person named in the residence order shall, to the exclusion of any other person, be deemed to be his nearest relative.”
(4)For subsection (3) there shall be substituted—
“(3)In this section “guardian” does not include a guardian under this Part of this Act.”
(5)In section 131(2) of that Act (informal admission of patients aged sixteen or over) for the words from “notwithstanding” to the end there shall be substituted “even though there are one or more persons who have parental responsibility for him (within the meaning of the Children Act 1989)”.