Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (“the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations”).

Regulation 2(2) and (3) amend regulation 5(1) and regulation 12 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations such that a person who is engaged in voluntary work shall be treated as available for employment if he is available to commence employment on receipt of one week’s notice and is available for interview in connection with the opportunity of any such employment on receipt of 48 hours' notice.

Regulation 2(4) amends regulation 15 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations to provide that a person on statutory paternity leave or ordinary adoption leave shall not be regarded as being available for employment for the purposes of those regulations.

Regulation 2(5) makes a minor technical amendment to regulation 30(a) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations that is consequential on the amendments made by regulation 2(2)(a).

These Regulations make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8), are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

These Regulations do not impose any charge on business.