New regulations 3A and 3B
14. After regulation 3, insert—
“Variation of core hours while a disease is or in anticipation of a disease being imminently pandemic etc.
3A.—(1) In these Regulations, “core hours” means the period beginning at 8.00am and ending at 6.30pm on any day from Monday to Friday in circumstances where, in order to assist in the management of a serious or potentially serious risk to human health arising as a consequence of a disease being, or in anticipation of a disease being imminently—
(a)pandemic; and
(b)a serious risk or potentially a serious risk to human health,
the Board may with the agreement of the Secretary of State make an announcement to the effect that the core hours of contractors in the area specified in the announcement are to include Good Friday and bank holidays in the circumstances specified, and for the duration of the period specified, in the announcement.
(2) In these Regulations, in the circumstances described in paragraph (1), “out of hours period means—
(a)the period beginning at 6.30pm on any day from Monday to Friday and ending at 8.00am on the following day; and
(b)the period beginning at 6.30pm on Friday and ending at 8.00am on the following Monday.
Amendment and withdrawal of announcements and advice in respect of pandemics etc.
3B. In these Regulations, where reference is made to an announcement or advice of the Board that relates to a disease being, or in anticipation of a disease being imminently—
(a)pandemic; and
(b)a serious risk or potentially serious risk to human health,
it is to that announcement or advice, which may be withdrawn at any time, as amended from time to time.”.