Amendment of the Work-focused Interviews for Lone Parents Regulations

2.—(1) The Work-focused Interviews for Lone Parents Regulations shall be amended in accordance with the following paragraphs.

(2) In regulation 1, for paragraph (3)(f) there shall be substituted the following—

“(f) subject to the preceding sub-paragraphs, come into force on 7th April 2003 in respect of lone parents who on that date are entitled to income support and are not responsible for and living in the same household as a child under the age of 5 years and 3 months;

(g) subject to the preceding sub-paragraphs, where a lone parent—

(i) is responsible for and living in the same household as a child who reaches the age of 5 years and 3 months after 7th April 2003; and

(ii) is not on the date that child reaches that age responsible for and living in the same household as a younger child,

come into force in respect of that lone parent on the date that child reaches the age of 5 years and 3 months.”.

(3) In regulation 2—

(a) after paragraph (1)(b)(i) there shall be inserted the following heads—

“(ia) is a lone parent to whom paragraph (4) applies, is required to take part in an interview after the expiry of six months from the date on which—

(aa) he took part in an interview under sub-paragraph (a); or

(bb) a determination was made under regulation 6 with effect that he is to be treated as having taken part in such an interview; or

(ib) took part, or failed to take part, or was treated as having taken part, in an interview pursuant to the requirement in head (ia), is required to take part in an interview after the expiry of six months from the date on which—

(i) he took part in that interview;

(ii) he failed to take part in that interview; or

(iii) a determination was made under regulation 6 with effect that he is to be treated as having taken part in that interview; or”;

(b) after paragraph (3) there shall be inserted the following paragraph—

“(4) This paragraph applies to a lone parent who—

(a) makes a claim for income support on or after 8th April 2002; and

(b) has taken part or has been treated as having taken part in an interview under paragraph (1)(a).”.

(4) In regulation 4(a) for the words “5 years and 3 months” there shall be substituted the words “3 years”.