(1)Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act provision may be made by regulations for the determination—
(a)by the Secretary of State ; or
(b)by a person or tribunal appointed or constituted in accordance with the regulations,
of any question arising under or in connection with this Act or the former legislation, including a claim for benefit. " The former legislation" means the National Insurance Acts 1965 to 1974 and the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Acts 1965 to 1974.
(2)Regulations under subsection (1) above may modify, add to or exclude any provisions of this Part of this Act, so far as relating to any questions to which the regulations relate.
(3)As respects any question as to the right to benefit (other than a question for determination by the Secretary of State under section 93 or 95 of this Act) regulations under subsection (1) above shall not provide for the determination of that question by the Secretary of State but, subject to subsection (4) below, shall provide—
(a)for the submission of the question in the first instance to an officer appointed by the Secretary of State ;
(b)for authorising the officer either himself to determine the question or to refer it to a local tribunal, and for enabling an appeal to be brought from the officer's decision to such a tribunal;
(c)for enabling an appeal to be brought from such a tribunal to, or to a tribunal presided over by, a Commissioner.
(4)Regulations under subsection (3) above may provide for the submission of different aspects of the same question to different officers; and for that purpose paragraphs (a) and (b) of that subsection shall have effect subject to the necessary modifications.
(5)Regulations under subsection (1) above may provide—
(a)for the reference to the High Court or, in Scotland, the Court of Session for decision of any question of law arising in connection with the determination of a question by the Secretary of State; and
(b)for appeals to the High Court or Court of Session from the decision of the Secretary of State on any such question of law;
and subsections (5) to (8) of section 94 of this Act shall apply to a reference or appeal under this subsection as they apply to a reference or appeal under subsections (1) to (3) of that section.