Section 24A
56.Section 24A restates with amendments the powers and duties of local authorities in respect of qualifying persons previously found in section 24(4) to (7) and (10).
57.Subsection (1) places a duty on local authorities to consider whether a qualifying person meets the conditions set out in subsection (2).
58.Subsection (2) sets out the conditions, which are (a) that the qualifying person needs help of a kind which the local authority can give him, and (b) in the case of a qualifying person who was not looked after by a local authority, that the local authority is satisfied that the person who was looking after him is not in a position to offer the help. Subsection (2)(b) rephrases the condition previously in section 24(5)(b) in a way which, taken with the new definition of a relevant authority at new section 24(5)(a), is intended to solve the difficulties of interpretation which have arisen over out of area placements.
59.If these conditions are met, subsection (3) states that if the qualifying person was looked after by a local authority or a voluntary organisation, the relevant authority must advise and befriend him. In other cases, it may do so. This is a restatement of the provision previously made by section 24(4).
60.Subsection (4) empowers an authority under these circumstances also to provide assistance, which may in accordance with subsection (5) be in kind or – though this is to be for exceptional cases only – in cash.
61.Subsection (6) applies existing section 17 (7) to (9) to any assistance which may be given under this section or section 24B. This requires the local authority to take account of the means of the child and his parents, and permits it, depending on their means, to require some or all of this assistance to be repaid.
