Welfare Reform Bill

Amendment 58 58: Before Clause 25, insert the following new Clause— "Exemption from jobseeking conditions for victims of domestic violence In Schedule 1 to the Jobseekers Act 1995 (c. 18) (supplementary provisions), after paragraph 8A insert— "8B (1) This paragraph applies if domestic violence has been inflicted on or threatened against a person ("V") in prescribed circumstances. (2) The Secretary of State must exercise the powers to make regulations under sections 6(4) and 7(4) so as to secure that, for an exempt period, V is treated as— (a) being available for employment; and (b) actively seeking employment. (3) If V has not entered into a jobseeker’s agreement before the exempt period begins, the Secretary of State must also exercise the power to make regulations under section 9(10) so as to secure that V is treated as having entered into a jobseeker’s agreement which is in force for the exempt period. (4) In this paragraph— "domestic violence" has such meaning as may be prescribed; "exempt period" means a period of 13 weeks beginning no later than a prescribed period after the date (or last date) on which the domestic violence was inflicted or threatened. (5) Regulations may make provision for the purposes of this paragraph prescribing circumstances in which domestic violence is, or is not, to be regarded as being inflicted on or threatened against a person.""