Commentary on Sections and Schedules Part 1:  General Functions of Local Authority: England Section 12: Duty to provide information, advice and assistance
51.Section 12 places a duty on local authorities to establish and maintain a service providing information, advice and assistance in accordance with the section. It requires local authorities to provide parents and prospective parents with prescribed information on the provision of childcare and on other services or facilities, or publications, that may benefit them or children or young people. The details of the information which must be provided will be dealt with in regulations.
52.Subsection (3) requires the Secretary of State, when prescribing in regulations the information which must be provided, to have regard to the needs of the parents of disabled children and young people for particular information, for example, information relating to the provision of childcare which is suitable for disabled children. Subsection (4) allows local authorities to provide additional information to parents and prospective parents and to provide information to other persons.
53.Section 12 also requires local authorities to provide advice and assistance to parents or prospective parents using or seeking childcare, and it requires them to ensure that the service is accessible to those who might benefit from it, in particular parents who might otherwise have difficulty accessing it.
54.When carrying out their functions under the section local authorities must have regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State.