Section 56A of the Principal Act is amended as follows:

(a) by omitting from subsection (6AA) "affected child" and substituting "affected person" ;

(b) by omitting from subsection (6A) "affected child" and substituting "affected person" ;

(c) by omitting from subsection (6C) " subsection (6) (a) or (b) " and substituting " subsection (6) " ;

(d) by omitting from subsection (8) " paragraph (a) " and substituting " paragraph (c) " ;

(e) by inserting the following subsection after subsection (10) :

(11)  A plea, answer or statement required of a defendant under this section may be entered, given or made by the defendant personally or, with the consent of the justices, through counsel.