Section 57 inserts new sections 2A and 2B after section 2 of the Administration Act. All references in the commentary below are to these new sections.
New section 2A enables regulations to provide that a claim to benefit will only be considered made once the claimant takes part in a work-focused interview. Where benefit is already being paid, the payment can either be stopped, or the amount payable restricted, for failure to take part in an interview.
While the section allows for the detail of these requirements to be provided for in secondary legislation, the main ways in which it is expected to use these powers are laid out in subsections (3) to (7). The reason for this approach is that there needs to be flexibility to adjust the various detailed aspects of the scheme in the light of experience gained during the operation of the pilot exercises.
Paragraph 83 of Schedule 12 makes the first set of regulations made under new section 2A subject to affirmative resolution (requiring positive approval in draft by both Houses of Parliament).
Commentary Commentary