Meaning of “volunteering period”
2(1)For the purposes of paragraph 1 the “volunteering periods” are—
(a)the period of 16 weeks beginning with the day on which this Schedule comes into force;
(b)any subsequent periods of 16 weeks specified by the relevant national authority in regulations;
(c)any period of less than 16 weeks, ending with the expiry of this Part of this Schedule, specified by the relevant national authority in regulations.
(2)A volunteering period specified in regulations under sub-paragraph (1)(b) or (1)(c)—
(a)may not begin before the end of the previous volunteering period;
(b)may, but need not, begin immediately after the end of the previous volunteering period.
(3)In this paragraph the “relevant national authority” means—
(a)in relation to England and Wales and Scotland, the Secretary of State;
(b)in relation to Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State or the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland.
(4)The Secretary of State may not make regulations under this paragraph in relation to Northern Ireland unless the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland consents.