It shall be the duty of local authorities from time to time to cause persons in establishments in their area to be visited in the interests of the well-being of the persons, and any person authorised in that behalf by a local authority may on producing if so required a duly authenticated document showing his authority to do so, enter any establishment in the area of the authority for the purpose of visiting the persons in the establishment.

Any person authorised in that behalf by a local authority may, on producing, if so required, such a document as aforesaid, enter any establishment outside the area of the authority for the purpose of visiting children in the establishment who are F1being looked after by the authority or persons who are receiving assistance from the authority under this Act.

Any person who obstructs the exercise of a power conferred by this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding F2level 3 on the standard scale in the case of a first offence or F2level 3 on the standard scale in the case of a second or any subsequent offence.

In subsection (2) of this section, the reference to children being looked after by a local authority shall be construed in accordance with section 17(6) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.