The Employment Zones (Allocation to Contractors) Pilot Regulations 2005

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision for a pilot scheme for jobseeker’s allowance claimants who fulfil the criteria in regulation 3 or 4 and are selected to participate in a compulsory employment zone programme with a particular employment zone contractor. The six areas of Great Britain designated as employment zones for the purpose of these Regulations are listed in the Schedule to these Regulations.

Regulation 1 provides for citation and for the Regulations to come into force on 25th April 2005. The Regulations will expire on 24th April 2006 unless revoked earlier.

Regulation 2 defines terms used in the Regulations.

Regulation 3 specifies those people who may be selected by an employment officer to participate in an employment zone programme with a particular employment zone contractor. Subject to certain conditions, these are jobseeker’s allowance claimants who live within an area designated as an employment zone and listed in the Schedule.

Regulation 4 makes provision for certain jobseeker’s allowance claimants who are at a significant disadvantage in the labour market to apply voluntarily to an employment officer for selection to participate in an employment zone programme with a particular employment zone contractor.

Regulation 5 sets out the two stages and maximum duration of an employment zone programme.

Regulation 6 makes provision for certain conditions for entitlement to a jobseeker’s allowance relating to availability for work, a jobseeker’s agreement and actively seeking work to be suspended whilst people are participating in an employment zone programme.

Regulation 7(1) provides that regulation 75(1)(a)(iii) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/207) shall apply to people selected on a sampling basis to participate in an employment zone programme with a particular contractor in accordance with these Regulations. The effect is to enable a sanction to be imposed under section 19 or 20A of the Jobseekers Act 1995 if a person without good cause refuses or fails to participate in an employment zone programme with a particular employment zone contractor. Where the Secretary of State is satisfied that such a person is no longer ordinarily resident in, or his address for payment is no longer in, an employment zone paragraph (2) provides that if a sanction has been incurred it shall end and the Regulations shall cease to apply except where a person who has already begun an employment zone programme requests to be allowed to complete that programme.

Regulation 8 enables a person who was selected for an employment zone programme under the Employment Zones (Allocation to Contractors) Pilot Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/934) before 25th April 2005 to complete the programme under these Regulations.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument because it has no impact on the costs of business.