The Employment Zones Regulations 2000

Statutory Instruments

2000 No. 721

SOCIAL SECURITY

The Employment Zones Regulations 2000

Made

10th March 2000

Laid before Parliament

13th March 2000

Coming into force

3rd April 2000

The Secretary of State for Education and Employment, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 60 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999(1) and section 19 of the Jobseekers Act 1995(2), hereby makes the following Regulations(3):

Commencement and citation

1.  These regulations may be cited as the Employment Zones Regulations 2000 and shall come into force on the 3rd of April 2000.

Interpretation

2.  In these regulations–

“the Act” means the Jobseekers Act 1995;

“an action plan” means a plan setting out the action which a claimant will take with a view to securing employment or improving his prospects of securing employment;

“an employment zone” means an area within Great Britain designated by these regulations for the purposes of section 60 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 and “an employment zone programme” means a programme established for such an area or areas designed to assist claimants for a jobseeker’s allowance to obtain sustainable employment;

“an initial interview” means an interview with an employment officer following notice sent to the claimant to attend for the purpose of initiating participation in an employment zone programme.

Areas designated as employment zones

3.  The areas within Great Britain designated as employment zones are the 15 areas comprising the wards and electoral divisions set out in the schedule.

Meaning of employment

4.  For the purposes of section 60 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 “employment” means employment whether under a contract of service or a contract of apprenticeship, or under a contract for services, or otherwise than under a contract, and includes in particular self employment and the holding of an office.

Eligibility for participation in an employment zone programme

5.  A claimant for a jobseeker’s allowance is eligible to participate in an employment zone programme if he is ordinarily resident within an employment zone on the day when notice to attend an initial interview is sent to him pursuant to regulation 23 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996(4).

The first stage

6.  A claimant begins to participate in the first stage of an employment zone programme on the day when he attends an initial interview and ceases to participate on such day as may be specified by an employment officer by notice to the claimant in writing.

Modifications to the provisions of the Act which apply to claimants during the first stage

7.  In relation to a claimant participating in the first stage of an employment zone programme the requirements for receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance set out in subsection 1(2) of the Act are modified by the suspension of the requirement for the claimant to have entered into a jobseeker’s agreement which remains in force.

The Second Stage

8.  A Claimant begins to participate in the second stage of an employment zone programme on such date as may be specified by an employment officer by notice to the claimant in writing and ceases to participate on such date as may be specified by an employment officer by notice to the claimant in writing.

Modifications to the provisions of the Act which apply to claimants during the second stage

9.  In relation to a claimant participating in the second stage of an employment zone programme the requirements for receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance set out in subsection 1(2) of the Act are modified by the suspension of the requirements for the claimant–

(a) to be available for employment,

(b) to have entered into a jobseeker’s agreement which remains in force, and

(c) to be actively seeking employment.

Amendment of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

10.—(1) The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 shall be amended in accordance with the following paragraph of this regulation.

(2) At the end of regulation 75(1)(a) (interpretation) there shall be inserted the word “and” followed by the following sub-paragraph

“(iii) an employment zone programme, being a programme established for one or more areas designated pursuant to section 60 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 and subject to the Employment Zones Regulations 2000”.

Tessa Jowell

Minister of State,

Department for Education and Employment

10th March 2000

SCHEDULE

Employment Zone	Ward or electoral division
Southwark	Cathedral; Riverside; Dockyard; Chaucer; Abbey; Browning; Bricklayers; Rotherhithe; Newington; Faraday; Burgess; Brunswick; Liddle; Friary; Consort; St Giles; The Lane; Barset; Lyndhurst; Bellenden; Waverley; Alleyn.
Haringey	Fortis Green; Highgate; Alexandra; Muswell Hill; Archway; Bowes Park; Hornsey Central; Crouch End; Woodside; Noel Park; Harringay; Hornsey Vale; South Hornsey; White Hart Lane; West Green; Green Lanes; Park; Bruce Grove; Tottenham Central; Seven Sisters; Coleraine; High Cross.
Plymouth	Southway; Budshead; Estover; St Budeaux; Honicknowle; Ham; Keyham; Trelawny; Stoke; Drake; Compton; Eggbuckland; Efford; Plympton St Mary; Plympton Erie; St Peter; Mount Gould; Sutton; Plymstock Radford; Plymstock Dunstone.
Nottingham	Radford; Forest; St Anne's; Lenton.
Newham	New Town; Forest Gate; Stratford; Park; Upton; West Ham; Plashet; Plaistow; Canning Town and Grange; Bemersyde; Hudsons; Ordnance; Beckton; Custom House and Silvertown; South.
Birmingham	Sandwell; Perry Barr; Oscott; Kingstanding; Stockland Green; Erdington; Kingsbury; Soho; Handsworth; Aston; Nechells; Washwood Heath; Hodge Hill; Shard End; Ladywood; Sparkbrook; Small Heath; Yardley; Sheldon; Acock’s Green; Fox Hollies; Quinton; Harborne; Edgbaston; Bartley Green; King’s Norton.
Tower Hamlets	Park; Weavers; St Peter's; St James; Holy Trinity; Grove; Bow; Spitalfields; St Mary's; Redcoat; St Dunstan's; Limehouse; Bromley; Lansbury; East India; St Katherine's; Shadwell; Blackwall; Millwall.
Liverpool and Sefton	Victoria; Church; Ford; Litherland; St Oswald; Netherton; Linacre; Orrell; Derby; Warbreck; Fazakerley; Vauxhall; Melrose; County; Pirrie; Gillmoss; Everton; Breckfield; Anfield; Clubmoor; Abercromby; Smithdown; Kensington; Tuebrook; Croxteth; Dovecot; Old Swan; Broadgreen; Dingle; Granby; Picton; Aigburth; Arundel; Church; Childwall; Grassendale; St Mary's; Allerton; Woolton; Valley; Netherley; Speke.
Brent	Queensbury; Kingsbury; Roe Green; Kenton; Fryent; Barnhill; Sudbury Court; Sudbury; Preston; St Andrew's; Barnham; Wembley Central; Tokynton; Alperton; Stonebridge; St Raphael's; Brentwater; Cricklewood; Gladstone; Church End; Mapesbury; Willesden Green; Roundwood; Brondesbury Park; Chamberlayne; Manor; Harlesden; Kensal Rise; Queens Park; Kilburn; Carlton.
Brighton and Hove	Portslade North; Portslade South; Hangleton; Nevill; Wish; Westdene; Stanford; Patcham; Preston; Stanmer; Hollingbury; Tenantry; Moulsecoomb; Marine; Woodingdean; Rottingdean; Westbourne; Vallance; Goldsmid; Brunswick and Adelaide; Regency; Seven Dials; St Peter's; Queen’s Park; Hanover; King’s Cliff.
Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland	St Hilda's; Ayresome; Park; North Ormesbury; Grove Hill; Easterside; Pallister; Grangetown; South Bank; Beckfield; Teesville; Overfields; Ormesby; Normandy; Coatham; Dormanstown; Easton; Bankside; Hutton; Guisborough; Kirkleatham; Redcar; West Dyke; Longbeck; St Germain's; Saltburn; Skelton; Belmonth; Brotton; Skinningrove; Lockwook; Loftus; Beechwood; Hemlington; Linthorpe; Gresham; Southfield; Westbourne; Berwick Hills; Park End; Thorntree; Church Lane; Newcomen.
Doncaster	Askern; Richmond; Mexborough; Conisbrough; Adwick; Bentley Central; Bentley North Road; Wheatley; Intake; Town Field; Central; Balby; Edlington and Warmsworth.
Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent	Vaynor; Gurnos; Park; Cyfarthfa; Penydarren; Dowlais; Town; Plymouth; Sirhowy; Twyn Carno; Rassau; Beaufort; Brymawr; Badminton; Ebbw Vale North; Nantyglo; Merthyr Vale; Bedlinog; Darran Valley; Pontlottyn; Moriah; Abertysswg; Tredegar Central & West; Georgetown; Ebbw Vale South; Blaina; Cwmtillery; Cwm; Abertillery; Argoed; New Tredegar; Tir-Phil; Six Bells; Llanhilleth; Crumlin; Penmaen; Blackwood; Aberbargoed; Bargoed; Gilfach; St Cattwg; Treharris; Cefn Fforest; Nelson; Ystrad Mynach; Hengoed; Pengam; Newbridge; Abercarn; Pontllanfraith; Aber Valley; Llanbradach; Maesycwmmer; Ynysddu; Crosskeys; Penyrheol; Morgan Jones; Bedwas & Trethomas; St Martins; St James; Machen; Risca East; Risca West
Glasgow City	Drumry; Summerhill; Blairdardie; Yoker; Knightswood; Knightscliff; Scotstoun; Kelvindale; Summerston; Broomhill; Kelvinside; Maryhill; Partick; North Kelvin; Ruchill; Milton; Springburn; Cowlairs; Keppochhill; Woodlands; Anderston; Central; Robroyston; Alexandra Park; Dennistoun; Carlton; Belvidere; Lethamhill; Riddrie; Gartlock; Queenslie; Easterhouse; Barlanark; Baillieston; Carntyne; Parkhead; Shettleston; Mount Vernon; Drumoyne; Govan; Kingston; Hutchesontown; Cardonald; Penilee; Bellahouston; Mosspark; Pollokshields; Pollock; Cowglen; South Nitshill; Arden; Shawlands; Pollokshaws; Newlands; Queenspark; Crosshill; Toryglen; Kings Park; Aikenhead; Castlemilk; Glenwood; Linn Park.
North West Wales	Bethel; Bontnewydd; Cadnant; Deiniol; Deiniolen; Dewi; Garth; Gerlan; Glyder; Hendre; Hirael; Llanberis; Llandwrog; Llandygai; Llanllechid/Aber; Llanllyfni; Llanrug; Llanwnda; Marchog; Menai (Bangor); Menai (Caernarfon); Ogwen; Peblig; Penisarwaun; Pentir; Penygroes; Rachub; Seiont; Palysarn; Waunfawr; Y Felinheli; Aberdaron; Abererch; Abersoch; Beddgelert; Botwnnog; Buan; Clynnog; Criccieth; Dolbenmaen; Efail-newydd; Gest; Llanaelhaearn; Llanarmon; Llanbedrog; Llaanengan; Llanystumdwy; Nefyn; Pistyll; Porthmadog East; Porthmadog West; Pwllheli North; Pwllheli South; Tremadog; Tudweiliog; Aberdovey; Arthog; Bala; Barmouth; Bowydd and Rhiw; Brithdir & Llanfachreth; Bryn-crug; Conglywal & Maenofferen; Corris; Cynfal and Teigl; Dolgellau; Dyffryn Ardudwy; Harlech; Lanbedr; Llandderfel; Llanelltyd; Llangelynin; Llanuwchllyn; Mawddwy; Penrhyndeudraeth; Trawsfynydd; Tywyn; Trefnant; Corwen; Denbigh Central; Denbigh Lower; Denbigh Upper; Efenechtyd; Gwyddelwern; Henllan; Llanarmon-yn-lal; Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd; Llandegla; Llandrillo; Llandyrnog; Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd; Llangollen; Llangollen Rural; Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch; Llanynys; Ruthin; Bodelwyddan; Dyserth; Meliden; Prestatyn Central; Prestatyn East; Prestatyn North; Prestatyn South West; Rhuddlan; Rhyl East; Rhyl South; Rhyl South East; Rhyl South West; Rhyl West; St Asaph East; St Asaph West; Tremeirchion; Aberffraw; Amlwch; Beaumaaris; Bodffordd; Bodorgan; Bryngwran; Brynteg; Cefni; Cwm Cadnant; Cyngar; Holyhead Town; Kingland; Llanbadrig; Llanbeedrgoch; Llanddyfnan; Llaneilian; Llanfaethlu; Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll; Llanfair-yn-Neubwll; Llanfihangel Ysgeifiog; Llangoed; Llanidan; Llanmerch-y-Medd; London Road; Maeshyfryd; Mechell; Moelfre; Morawelon; Parca'r Mynydd; Pentraeth; Porthyfelin; Rhosyr; Trearddur; Tudur; Tysilio; Valley; Betws yn Rhos; Colwyn; Dinarth; Eirias; Gele; Glyn; Kinmel Bay; Llanddulas; Llanfair Talhaiarn; Llangernyw; Llansannan; Llysfaen; Mochdre; Pentre Mawr; Rhiw; Rhos; Towyn; Uwchaled; Betws-y-Coed; Bro Machno; Bryn; Bryn Rhys; Caerhun; Capelulo; Conwy; Craig-y-Don; Crwst; Deganwy; Eglwysbach; Fforddlas; Gogarth; Gower; Lafan; Marl; Mostyn; Pandy; Pant-yr-afon; Penmaenan; Penrhyn; Pensarn; Trefriw; Tudno; Uwch Conwy.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations designate 15 areas in Great Britain to be employment zones within which employment zone programmes can be run. The purpose of such a programme is to assist participants living within a zone and claiming a jobseeker’s allowance to obtain sustainable employment. Employment is defined widely to include any paid work whether carried out for an employer or in the course of any trade, business, profession, partnership, office or vocation.

Regulation 3 designates the areas by reference to lists of wards and electoral divisions set out in the schedule.

Regulation 4 contains the definition of employment.

Regulation 5 provides that eligibility to participate depends upon living within a zone.

Regulation 6 defines a first stage of participation during which Regulation 7 relaxes a requirement of the Jobseekers Act 1995 so as to allow participants to continue to be eligible to receive a jobseeker’s allowance without maintaining a jobseeker’s agreement.

Regulation 8 defines a second stage of participation during which Regulation 9 relaxes additional requirements of the Jobseekers Act 1995 so as to allow participants to continue to be eligible to receive a jobseeker’s allowance without remaining available for employment and without actively seeking employment.

Regulation 10 amends regulation 75 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 so as to apply the sanction provisions set out in section 19 of the Jobseekers Act 1995 to defaults arising in connection with employment zone programmes.

These regulations do not impose any charge on business.

(1)

1999 c. 30.

(2)

1995 c. 18.

(3)

These regulations are made within 6 months of the coming into force of section 60 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 and accordingly, by reason of section 173(5)(a) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (1992 c. 5), reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee by the Secretary of State of his proposal to make the regulations is not required notwithstanding the provisions contained in Sections 170 and 172 of that Act, as amended by paragraph 81(a) of Schedule 12 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999.

(4)

S.I. 1996/207.