The Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (1999 Order) (Commencement No. 2 and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1999

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order.)

This Order brings into force further provisions of the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (“the Transfer Order”).

The provisions of the Transfer Order to which this Order relates are concerned with the determination of issues under the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (c. 49) (“the Pensions Act”) and with the procedures for decision making and appeals on social security matters where other issues arise which fall to be determined by officers of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (“the Board”). In accordance with Article 2 of this Order, the provisions of the Transfer Order specified in Part I of the Schedule to this Order come into force on 15th June 1999 in so far as they authorise the making of regulations and the provisions specified in Part II of that Schedule come into force on 5th July 1999.

Article 3 of this Order makes consequential amendments to the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999, in particular so that references in those Regulations to the Department of Health and Social Services in the context of decisions under the Pensions Act are replaced by, or construed as, references to an officer of the Board, and so that documents relating to such decisions are sent to officers of the Board.

Article 4 of this Order makes transitional provision, in respect of decisions under section 165(1) of the Pensions Act, in connection with the coming into force of Article 15(2) of the Transfer Order.

Article 23 of the Transfer Order was brought into force on 25th March 1999 by an Order (The Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (1999 Order) (Commencement of Article 23) Order (Northern Ireland) 1999) which was not made by a statutory rule and copies of which can be obtained from the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland, Social Security Policy and Legislation Division, Room D3, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SQ.