These Regulations further amend the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 and the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (“the principal Regulations”).

Regulation 2 amends each of the principal Regulations so as to replace the existing definition of “self-employment route”. The amendment will allow the provisions in the principal Regulations which relate to the self-employment route to be extended to persons receiving assistance in pursuing self-employed earner’s employment whilst taking part in any programmes provided or arrangements made pursuant to section 1 of the Employment and Training Act (Northern Ireland) 1950 (c. 50).

Regulations 3 and 4 amend the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 and the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 to provide that persons receiving assistance under the self-employment route who do not fall within any of the existing exceptions shall not be treated as engaged in remunerative work.

In so far as these Regulations are required, for the purposes of regulation 2, to be referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee under section 149(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (“the 1992 Act”), after agreement by the Social Security Advisory Committee, they have not been so referred by virtue of section 150(1)(b) of that Act. Otherwise they make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, the 1992 Act, are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

These Regulations do not impose a charge on business.