55. After section 2B of the Administration Act (inserted by Article 54) there shall be inserted—
2C.—(1) Regulations may make provision for conferring on the prescribed authorities functions in connection with conducting work-focused interviews in cases where such interviews are requested or consented to by persons to whom this section applies.
(2) This section applies to persons making claims for or entitled to—
(a)any of the benefits listed in section 2A(2) above, or
(b)any prescribed benefit;
and it so applies regardless of whether such persons have, in accordance with regulations under section 2A above, already taken part in interviews conducted under such regulations.
(3) The functions which may be conferred on the prescribed authorities by regulations under this section include functions relating to—
(a)the obtaining and receiving of information for the purposes of work-focused interviews conducted under the regulations;
(b)the recording and forwarding of information supplied at, or for the purposes of, such interviews;
(c)the taking of steps to identify potential employment or training opportunities for persons taking part in such interviews.
(4) Regulations under this section may make different provision for different areas.
(5) In this section—
“authorities” means a Northern Ireland department and any other body established by or under a statutory provision;
“work-focused interview”, in relation to a person to whom this section applies, means an interview conducted for such purposes connected with employment or training in the case of such a person as may be prescribed; and the purposes which may be so prescribed include—
purposes connected with the existing or future employment or training prospects or needs of such a person, and
(in particular) assisting or encouraging such a person to enhance his employment prospects.”.