Finance Act 2000

29 (1) The Secretary of State may make provision by regulations— E+W+S+N.I.

(a) allowing a company or group, in such circumstances and to such extent as may be prescribed, to propose in its training commitment to meet the minimum training obligation by making payments in lieu of training; and

(b) requiring a company or group to make payments in lieu of training—

(i) where its training commitment provides for such payments;

(ii) where training is not provided in accordance with its training commitment.

(2) The regulations shall provide for payments in lieu of training—

(a) to be calculated on such basis as may be prescribed,

(b) to be made to or for the benefit of any prescribed person involved in the training of seafarers, and

(c) to be made at such intervals and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(3) The regulations may provide that if in any case there is a failure in relation to a company or group to comply with the requirements of this Part of this Schedule with respect to—

(a) the submission of training commitments, or

(b) the making of returns or provision of information,

the Secretary of State may determine to the best of his information and belief the amount of the payments in lieu of training to be made by the company or group.

(4) The regulations may provide that a payment in lieu of training that has become due but is unpaid—

(a) is a debt due to the Secretary of State or any prescribed person involved in the training of seafarers, and

(b) carries interest at such rate as may be prescribed.

(5) The regulations may provide for the costs or expenses of any legal or other proceedings for recovering the debt or interest to be recoverable, and to carry interest, in the same way as the debt.