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Whereas a draft of this instrument was laid before Parliament in accordance with section 13(10) of the Social Security Act 1988[1] and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament: Now therefore the Secretary of State for Health, in exercise of the powers conferred on her by section 13 of the Social Security Act 1988, and section 175(2) to (5) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992[2], and all other powers enabling her in that behalf, and after having consulted the Scottish Ministers and the National Assembly for Wales[3], hereby makes the following Regulations:— Citation and commencement 1. These Regulations may be cited as the Healthy Start Scheme and Welfare Food (Amendment) Regulations 2005 and shall come into force on the day after the day on which they are made. Interpretation 2. —(1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—
(2) Where any provision of these Regulations requires or enables anything to be done by or in respect of a beneficiary and that beneficiary is a child, the provision shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be deemed to refer to a parent with parental responsibility for the child or the child's guardian or the person having care of her. Entitlement to benefit 3. —(1) A person described in paragraph (3) is entitled to benefit in accordance with these Regulations. (2) The benefit to which a person described in paragraph (3) is entitled is Healthy Start food to the value represented by a voucher as provided in regulation 8(3). (3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person so described is a person resident in an area described in Schedule 1 and who is—
(ii) an income-based jobseeker's allowance; or (iii) child tax credit, where the relevant income of the person or persons to whom the award of child tax credit is made under section 14 of the Tax Credits Act 2002[10] is determined at the time of the award not to exceed £13,910, and the person is not entitled to working tax credit;
(b) a woman under the age of 18 who has been pregnant for more than ten weeks, provided that she is not a person to whom section 115 (exclusion from benefits) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999[11] applies;
(ii) has parental responsibility for that child whose date of birth has not been notified to the Secretary of State and in respect of whom the period of four months from the estimated date of delivery has not yet passed;
(d) a mother who—
(ii) has parental responsibility for a child who is under the age of one year, or in respect of whom the first anniversary of the estimated date of delivery has not yet passed, and (iii) is or is a member of the family of a person who is entitled to income support, an income-based jobseeker's allowance, or child tax credit, where the relevant income of the person or persons to whom the award of child tax credit is made under section 14 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 is determined at the time of the award not to exceed £13,910, and the person is not entitled to working tax credit; or
(e) a child who is under the age of five years, and who is a member of the family of a person who is entitled to income support, or an income-based jobseeker's allowance, or child tax credit, where the relevant income of the person or persons to whom the award of child tax credit is made under section 14 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 is determined at the time of the award not to exceed £13,910, and the person is not entitled to working tax credit.
(4) A mother who satisfies the requirements for entitlement by virtue of having parental responsibility for more than one child who is a child mentioned in paragraph (3)(c) or (d) is entitled to benefit in respect of each such child.
(b) in regulation 3(3)(d) or (e) or (5) who is a member of the family of a person who is entitled to child tax credit will be entitled to benefit from the date on which she became a person so described.
(6) Subject to the provisions of this regulation, a person's entitlement under this regulation and regulation 3 shall begin from the date on which her claim complying with the requirements of paragraph (1) is received by the Secretary of State. Issue of voucher 8. —(1) For each week that a beneficiary is entitled to benefit under regulations 3 and 4 the Secretary of State shall issue or cause to be issued to that beneficiary a voucher to enable the beneficiary to obtain the benefit to which she is entitled. (2) The period of validity of the voucher shall be not less than four weeks and not more than six months from the date of issue of the voucher. (3) The value represented by the voucher in respect of which the voucher may be exchanged under regulation 9 for Healthy Start food is £2.80. (4) The Secretary of State shall ensure that the following are indicated on the face of the voucher:
(b) a description of Healthy Start food; and (c) the period of validity of the voucher.
Use of voucher
(b) Healthy Start food supplied in exchange for a voucher;
except in accordance with these Regulations.
(b) there is no food outlet within a reasonable distance of the beneficiary's home; or (c) the beneficiary is a child under the age of one year and there is no food outlet within a reasonable distance of the child's home at which a voucher can be exchanged for Healthy Start food consisting of infant formula as described in Schedule 3;
the beneficiary may, in accordance with paragraph (3), so notify in writing the Secretary of State for the purposes of this regulation.
(b) in paragraph (2) must do so before expiry of the period of validity of the voucher.
(4) If the Secretary of State is satisfied—
(b) on a notification pursuant to paragraph (2)(a), that the voucher has been lost or stolen or accidentally destroyed, or (c) on a notification pursuant to paragraph (2)(b) or (c), that there is no food outlet within a reasonable distance of the beneficiary's home or no such food outlet at which a voucher can be exchanged for Healthy Start food consisting of infant formula as described in Schedule 3,
she shall either, as she considers appropriate, issue or cause to be issued to that beneficiary a voucher or pay the beneficiary an amount equal to the value represented by the voucher. Application for registration of food outlet 12. —(1) A person carrying on a business of the supply of food who wishes to supply Healthy Start food in exchange for a voucher and to receive payment from the Secretary of State for such supply shall apply in writing to the Secretary of State to be registered as a food outlet. (2) A person who applies under paragraph (1) shall provide the information, supported by the declaration specified in Schedule 4. (3) The Secretary of State shall register an applicant as a food outlet if she is satisfied that the information and declaration provided by the applicant are accurate and complete. (4) A food outlet shall notify the Secretary of State of any material change that may affect the information provided pursuant to this regulation or his ability to supply Healthy Start food. (5) A person shall cease to be a food outlet if the Secretary of State determines that the person—
(b) is in persistent breach of his duties under the Healthy Start scheme; or (c) has not submitted a claim for payment pursuant to regulation 14 for a period of one year.
(6) The Secretary of State may determine that a person who has been convicted of an offence punishable by at least six months' imprisonment shall cease to be a food outlet.
(b) credit the beneficiary with an amount equal to the value indicated on the face of the voucher towards the next purchase by the beneficiary of food of a description similar to that of Healthy Start food.
Payment of food outlet
(b) the food outlet received the voucher in exchange for Healthy Start food provided to a beneficiary in accordance with these Regulations,
the Secretary of State may pay the food outlet an amount equal to the value indicated on the face of the voucher, notwithstanding that the claim has not been received.
(b) may be copied or extracts may be taken from it, and (c) shall be explained by the person producing it, or, where that person is a body corporate, any other person who is a present or past officer of, or is employed by the body corporate, if so requested by the Secretary of State.
(4) A person who has failed to produce information or evidence required pursuant to paragraph (1) shall state, to the best of his knowledge and belief, where it is held. Amendment of the 1996 Regulations - Healthy Start scheme 16. The 1996 Regulations are amended as follows:—
(b) in regulation 4(1) (child under the age of one year – entitlement to free dried milk or milk), after "Great Britain", there is inserted "other than a child who resides in an area specified in Schedule 1 to the Healthy Start Scheme and Welfare Food (Amendment) Regulations 2005,"; (c) in regulation 5 (entitlement to free vitamins)—
(ii) in paragraph (3B), at the beginning, there is inserted, "Other than in the case of a pregnant woman who resides in an area specified in Schedule 1 to the Healthy Start Scheme and Welfare Food (Amendment) Regulations 2005,";
(d) in regulation 22 (application of enactments)—
(ii) in paragraph (2), after "regulation 14(4)," there is inserted—
regulation 9(4); regulation 11(2); regulation 13(1); regulation 13(3),";
(e) in Schedule 6 to the 1996 Regulations (enactments applied for the purposes of these Regulations)—
(ii) for the modifications in relation to section 112 of the Social Security Administration Act substitute "In subsection (1), for the words "benefit or other payment under the relevant social security legislation", substitute the words "welfare food, Healthy Start food or payment under a scheme made for the purposes of section 13 of the Social Security Act 1988", for the words "that legislation" substitute the words "such a scheme" and omit subsections (1A) to (1F)".
Transitional provision
(b) the definition of "guarantee credit" is deleted.
(2) In regulation 3(2)((b)(iii), at the end, "or" is deleted. The area encompassed within postcode districts commencing with "PL", "TR", "TQ" and "EX". Information needed for application for benefit 1. A claim for benefit in respect of a pregnant woman, mother or child pursuant to regulation 3 shall contain the following information—
(b) the name, address, and national insurance number of the person of whose family the pregnant woman, mother or child is a member and who is entitled to a social security benefit or tax credit mentioned in regulation 3 unless the person entitled is the pregnant woman or mother; (c) the national insurance number of the pregnant woman or mother, or, if the person in respect of whom the claim is made is aged under 18, that person's date of birth.
Evidence in writing needed for application for benefit
(ii) an income based jobseeker's allowance; or (iii) child tax credit, where the relevant income of the person or persons to whom the award of child tax credit is made under section 14 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 is determined at the time of the award not to exceed £13,910, and the person is not entitled to working tax credit; and
(b) the claimant understands the rules of the Healthy Start scheme and will abide by her obligations under the scheme.
(2) If a claim is made by a pregnant woman under the age of 18, the declaration described in sub-paragraph (1) is not necessary.
Information needed for application for registration as a food outlet 6. An application for registration as a food outlet shall contain the following information—
(b) the address from which the proposed food outlet will supply the Healthy Start food, or, if this is not appropriate, the correspondence address in relation to that supply; (c) the name, address, sort code, and account number of the bank of the proposed food outlet and any other details necessary for payment to be made to the bank account of the proposed food outlet; (d) the category of Healthy Start food that the proposed food outlet is willing to supply.
Declaration needed for application for registration as a food outlet The information to be provided by a food outlet on a claim for payment in relation to vouchers is—
(b) the address at which the food outlet exchanged Healthy Start food for the vouchers to which the claim relates; and (c) the number of vouchers included with the claim.
(This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations establish a scheme in the area in the West of England encompassed within postcode districts commencing with "PL", "TR", "TQ" and "EX" to provide benefits for pregnant women, mothers and children ("the Healthy Start scheme"). They are the first set of regulations made under new powers in section 13 (benefits under schemes for improving nutrition: pregnant women, mothers and children) of the Social Security Act 1988[13] ("the 1988 Act"). Section 13 of the 1988 Act was replaced by wording in section 185 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003[14] (replacement of the Welfare Food Schemes: Great Britain). The Regulations also amend the Welfare Food Regulations 1996[15] ("the 1996 Regulations"). Part 1 deals with preliminary matters. Regulations 1 and 2 provide for citation, commencement and interpretation. The Regulations are to come into force on the day after the day on which they are made. Part II covers entitlement to benefit under the Healthy Start scheme. Persons entitled to benefit under the Healthy Start scheme are described in regulation 3 and Schedule 1. Regulation 3 also provides for the Healthy Start food benefit to which a beneficiary is entitled. Regulation 4 and Schedule 2 make provision for claims for the Healthy Start benefit. Regulation 5 and Schedule 3 make further provision in relation to Healthy Start food. Advice on health and nutrition is provided for by regulation 6. Regulation 7 is concerned with cessation of entitlement to the Healthy Start benefit. Part III is concerned with voucher arrangements. Regulation 8 provides for the issue of a voucher under the Healthy Start scheme. The value represented by the voucher is £2.80. Use of a voucher is covered by regulation 9. Regulation 10 details what is to happen if a beneficiary fails to receive benefit, and regulation 11 provides for property in a voucher. Part IV sets out the arrangements concerning food outlets in the Healthy Start scheme. Applications to be registered as a food outlet are provided for in regulation 12 and Schedule 4. The duties of a food outlet are set out in regulation 13. Regulation 14 and Schedule 5 detail the procedures for payment of a food outlet. Regulation 15 imposes a requirement to furnish information in the specified circumstances. Part V contains the final provisions. Regulation 16 makes amendments to the 1996 Regulations to provide for the Healthy Start scheme including the creation of new criminal offences. Regulation 17 makes transitional provision. Other amendments and revocations to provisions of the 1996 Regulations are made by regulation 18. A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared and placed in the library of each House of Parliament. Copies can be obtained from the Department of Health, Wellington House, 133 – 155 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UG. Notes: [1] 1988 c. 7. Section 13 was amended by section 21(1) and (2) of, and Schedule 6, paragraph 8(11)(a), and Schedule 7 to, the Social Security Act 1990 (c. 27), section 4 of, and Schedule 2 to, paragraph 94 of, the Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1992 (c. 6). Section 185(1) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43) substituted new provisions for the existing provisions of section 13 (see the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (Commencement) (No. 7) Order 2005, 2005 No. 2278 (C.95)). Savings were made by the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (Savings) Order 2005, S.I. 2005/2279.back [2] 1992 c. 4. Section 175(2) to (5) is applied by section 15A of the Social Security Act 1988 (c. 7) which section was inserted by section 21(1) of, and Schedule 6, paragraph 8(10) to, the Social Security Act 1990 (c. 27) and amended by section 4 of, and Schedule 2, paragraph 96 of, the Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1992 (c. 6) and section 185(2) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43). (See the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (Commencement) (No. 7) Order 2005, 2005 No. 2278 (C.95)).back [3] See the requirement to consult in section 13(2) of the Social Security Act 1988 (c. 7).back [4] "Registered" in relation to nurses and midwives is defined in Schedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30), and has been amended by the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001, S.I. 2002/253, Schedule 5 (consequential amendments to primary legislation), paragraph 7, and further amended by the Health Act 1999 (Consequential Amendments) (Nursing and Midwifery) Order 2004, S.I. 2004/1771.back [9] S.I. 1996/1434, as amended by the Welfare Food (Amendment) Regulations 2005, S.I. 2005/688. Previous amending instruments were revoked by regulation 3 of S.I. 2005/688, and earlier amending instruments.back [11] 1999 c.33, as amended by the State Pension Credit Act 2002 (c. 16), section 4(2), regulation 2 of the Regulatory Reform (Carer's Allowance) Order 2002, S.I. 2002/1457 and the Tax Credits Act 2002, section 60, Schedule 6, and section 51, Schedule 4, paragraphs 20 and 21.back [12] See section 4(1) of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11).back [14] 2003 c. 43. See the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (Commencement) (No. 7) Order 2005, 2005 No. 2278 (C.95) and the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (Savings) Order 2005 , S.I. 2005/2279 for provisions on commencement and savings that affect section 185.back [15] S.I. 1996/1434, as amended by the Welfare Food (Amendment) Regulations 2005, S.I. 2005/688. Previous amending instruments were revoked by regulation 3 of S.I. 2005/688, and earlier amending instruments.back
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