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 are claiming benefit, as identified in the Schedule to these Regulations.

The Regulations have the effect that if such a person without good cause refuses or fails to participate in the training programme known as literacy and numeracy skills training, or loses his place on such a programme due to misconduct, he will receive a sanction under section 19 or 20A of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (c. 18) and regulation 69 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/207). The effect of this will be a loss or reduction of his jobseeker’s allowance for a period of two weeks or four weeks.

The Report of the Social Security Advisory Committee dated 6th July 2001 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. 5224, published by The Stationery Office Ltd.

These Regulations do not impose any charge on business.