Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Employment Zones (Amendment) Regulations 2004 and shall come into force on 26th April 2004.

Amendments to the Employment Zones Regulations 2003

2.The Employment Zones Regulations 2003( 4 ) shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions—

(a) in regulation 1(2) after the words “these Regulations” insert “, except where the context otherwise requires”;

(b) in regulation 1(3) after the words “or otherwise” insert the word “than”;

(c) in regulation 2(1)(c) for the words “or these Regulations in the previous twelve months but left that programme before completing the programme” substitute “, these Regulations or the Employment Zones (Allocation to Contractors) Pilot Regulations 2004( 5 ) in the previous twelve months but did not complete the programme.”;

(d) in regulation 2(2) for the word “proceeding” substitute the word “preceding”;

(e) in regulation 2(2)(c) for the words “in the previous 12 months but left that programme before completing the programme” substitute “pursuant to these Regulations or the Employment Zones (Allocation to Contractors) Pilot Regulations 2004 in the previous twelve months but did not complete the programme.”;

(f) after regulation 6 insert the following regulations—

“ Cessation

7. —(1) Subject to paragraph (2), where a person to whom a direction given under regulation 2 or 3 would otherwise apply informs the Secretary of State of a change of address that results in that person no longer being ordinarily resident within an employment zone or, in the case of a person to whom regulation 3 applies, his address for payment of his jobseeker’s allowance is no longer within an employment zone, then—

(a) any sanction incurred by that person under sections 19 or 20A of the Jobseekers Act 1995 ( 6 ) as a result of his refusing or failing to participate in, or giving up a place on an employment zone programme shall end; and

(b) subject to paragraph (2), these Regulations shall cease to apply to that person.

(2) Where that person asks to complete an employment zone programme in which he is participating, regulations 4 and 5 of these Regulations shall continue to apply until he ceases to participate in that programme but he shall not incur a sanction under section 19 or 20A of the Jobseekers Act 1995 if, for whatever reason, he subsequently refuses or fails to participate in, or gives up his place on that programme.

Revocation and Saving

8. —(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Employment Zone Regulations 2000 ( 7 ) are hereby revoked.

(2) In the case of a claimant to whom notice to attend an initial interview has been sent in accordance with regulation 5 of the Employment Zones Regulations 2000 before 26th April 2004, those Regulations shall continue to apply until the claimant has completed the employment zone programme or is notified by an employment officer that he is no longer required to participate in an employment zone programme subject to the Employment Zones Regulations 2000. ” .