(1)Subject to any exceptions or conditions prescribed by regulations of the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State shall at the request of any person claiming benefit from a registered friendly society or branch provide the society or branch for the purposes of the claim with a copy or abstract of any medical certificate relating to that person and supplied by him to the Secretary of State for purposes of the enactments relating to national insurance and social security.
(2)Where the Secretary of State furnishes a registered friendly society or branch, in connection with a claim for benefit from the society or branch, with information relating to a claim or award under those enactments, the expenses incurred in connection therewith by the Secretary of State or any other Government Department shall be treated as expenses in carrying those enactments into effect.
(3)Until the amendments of section 9 of the [1955 c. 19 (4 & 5 Eliz. 2).] Friendly Societies Act 1955 made by section 100(2)(a) of and paragraph 17 of Schedule 27 to the [1973 c. 38.] Social Security Act 1973 come into force the foregoing provisions of this section shall have effect as set out in Schedule 7 to this Act.