EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations replace regulations 7(3) and (4), and make consequential changes to regulation 1(2), of, and insert new regulations 7(3A) (3C) into, the Education and Training (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (S.S.I. 2000/292) ("the principal Regulations").
At present, regulation 7(3) of the principal Regulations provides that grants may be paid in respect of travel, accommodation or other costs incurred by a learning account holder as a result of his undertaking relevant education or training, subject to conditions of eligibility determined by the Scottish Ministers.
These Regulations replace the existing regulation 7(3) with a provision which provides that the Scottish Ministers may pay grants to learning account holders:
(a) in respect of any travel and subsistence costs incurred as a result of undertaking relevant education or training, provided that they meet the conditions specified in the new regulations 7(3A) and (3C) (inserted by regulation 2(4)). The conditions specified in those regulations are that the learning account holder is in receipt of certain social security benefits (or, in the case of working families tax credit, whose spouse is in receipt of that benefit) and that he resides in either the Borders local government area or certain electoral wards of Highland Council (compromising the district of Lochaber); and
(b) in respect of childcare costs incurred as a result of their undertaking relevant education or training, provided that they meet the conditions specified in the new regulations 7(3B) and (3C). The conditions specified in those regulations are that the learning account holder is a lone parent in receipt of certain social security benefits payable to families with children and the residence condition referred to in the preceding paragraph.
The residence condition for each of these grants is imposed because payment of these grants is being undertaken as a pilot scheme, and these areas have been chosen for the purposes of that scheme. It is intended that the operation of this pilot scheme will be reviewed within a year.
Regulation 2(5) substitutes a new regulation 7(4) into the principal Regulations which provides that the amount and manner of timing of payment of the grants referred to above shall be determined by the Scottish Ministers, and that different amounts may be determined for different categories of learning account holder. This provision differs from regulation 7(4) as originally enacted in that it omits the reference in the latter to the Scottish Ministers determining the conditions of eligibility for these grants. These conditions are now specified in regulations 7(3A) 3(C).
[1]
2000 asp 8.back
[2]
S.S.I. 2000/292.back
[3]
1992 c.4.back
[4]
1995 c.18.back
[5]
Section 124 was amended by paragraph 30 of Schedule 2, and Schedule 3, of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (c.18) and paragraph 28 of Schedule 8 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c.30).back
[6]
Section 130 was amended by paragraph 3 of Schedule 9 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c.14); paragraph 174(4) of Schedule 13 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 (c.39) and Part VI of Schedule 19 of the Housing Act 1996 (c.52).back
[7]
Section 131 was inserted by paragraph 4 of Schedule 9 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c.14).back
[8]
Section 70 was amended by regulation 2(3) of S.I. 1994/2556.back
[9]
Section 71 was amended by section 67 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c.30).back
[10]
Section 128 was amended by paragraph 33 of Schedule 2 of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (c.18) and paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 1 of the Tax Credits Act 1999 (c.10).back
[11]
S.I. 1987/1967. Regulation 17(1) was amended by S.I. 1996/206 regulation 9.back
[12]
S.I. 1996/207.back
[13]
S.I. 1998/3248 establishes the electoral wards for Highland Council. Those listed in regulation 7(3C)(b), as inserted into the principal Regulations by regulation 2(4) of these Regulations, comprise electoral wards 73 to 80 as set out in the Schedule to that Order.back
ISBN
0 11 059476 2
