Explanatory Notes

Welfare Reform Act 2009

2009 CHAPTER 24

12 November 2009

Territorial Extent

42.Most provisions in this Act extend to England and Wales and Scotland, but not to Northern Ireland. Although the provisions in this Act are transferred matters under the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and Northern Ireland has its own social security legislation, there is a long-standing policy of parity in this area.

43.Section 24 and Schedule 4 (loss of benefit provisions), extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

44.Part 4 and Schedule 6, which relate to birth registration, extend to England and Wales only.

45.The other provisions of the Act extend to England and Wales and Scotland.

46.In general, the provisions of the Act apply to Wales in the same way as they apply to England. The exception is that section 45 enables regulations under section 41 to be made by the Welsh ministers in certain cases.

47.Amendments, repeals and revocations made by this Act have the same extent as the provision which is being amended, repealed or revoked. The only exception is that the amendment of the Population (Statistics) Act 1938 in Schedule 6 does not extend to Scotland.