Section 1 Registration of nurseries and child-minders.C1

Every local health authority shall keep registers—

The registers kept under this subsection shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times.

Any person receiving or proposing to receive children as mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of the foregoing subsection may make application to F2the local health authoritythe local social services authority for registration thereunder, and on receipt of such an application the local health authoritythe local social services authority shall, subject to the provisions of this section, register the premises to which or person to whom the application relates.

The local health authoritythe local social services authority may by order refuse to register any premises if they are satisfied that any person employed or proposed to be employed in looking after children at the premises is not a fit person to look after children, or, where the premises were not at the commencement of this Act in use for the reception of children as mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section, if the local authority are satisfied that the premises are not fit F3(whether because of the condition thereof or of the equipment thereof or for any reason connected with the situation, construction or size thereof or with other persons therein) to be used for that purpose.

The local health authoritythe local social services authority may by order refuse to register any person if they are satisfied that that person, or any person employed or proposed to be employed by him in looking after children, is not a fit person to look after children or that the premises in which the children are received or proposed to be received are not fit (whether because of the condition thereof F4or of the equipment thereof or for any reason connected with the situation, construction or size thereof or with other persons therein) to be used for the purpose.