Explanatory note

These Regulations establish a pilot scheme relating to persons who claim a jobseeker’s allowance and who fulfil the criteria specified in regulation 3 as to age, period over which they have been receiving benefit and the location of appropriate offices at which they claim benefit, as identified in the Schedule to these Regulations.

The pilot scheme is to last for a period of one year from 5th April 2004 to 4th April 2005 unless these Regulations are revoked with effect from an earlier date.

The Regulations add to the list of training schemes in regulation 75 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/207) with the effect that if such a person without good cause refuses or fails to participate in the training scheme known as basic skills training, or gives up his place on such a scheme, he will be subject to a sanction under section 19 or 20A of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (c. 18) and regulation 69 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996. The effect of this will be the loss or reduction of his jobseeker’s allowance for a period of two weeks or four weeks (regulation 3).

The Report of the Social Security Advisory Committee dated 27th November 2003 on the proposals referred to them in respect of these Regulations, together with a statement showing the extent to which the proposals give effect to the Recommendations of the Committee, and in so far as they do not give effect to them, the reasons why not, are contained in Command Paper Cm. 6116 published by The Stationery Office Ltd.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business.